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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 564 UTIaN FILE NO. asiioL� A Resole . -01 Resolution responding to the proposed U.S. Department of Transportation regulations guiding transportation services for the handicapped pertaining to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. WHEREAS, there is a recognized need to provide transportation services that are accessible to the elderly and handicapped; and, WHEREAS, joint Urban Mass Transportation Administration-Federal Highway Administration guidelines issued April 30, 1976 for the planning and implementation of transportation services for the elderly and handicapped, as called for in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, required local governments to complete a plan outlining the trans- portation services to be considered for implementation for the elderly and handicapped, based upon the desires of the local elderly and handicapped community and the study efforts; and, WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council is the single policy group for multimodal transportation planning in the North Central Texas region, and the designated policy body for the Metropolitan Plan- I ning Organization for the Fort Worth-Dallas area, with responsibili- ties for planning and implementation of the transportation system in the region; and, WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council, in conjunction with the Cities of Fort Worth and Dallas , did direct such a study and response to the April 30, 1976, regulations and its own desires to provide public transportation services to the elderly and handicapped, culminating in the production of the report Transportation Options for the Elderly and the Handicapped, which included recommenda- tions for public transportation services for this group; and, WHEREAS, the study effort recommended special transportation service for the elderly and handicapped, reflecting the desires of local govern- ments, the local elderly and handicapped community, the Fort Worth Public Transportation Advisory Committee, and local social service agencies, and was approved by the Regional. Transportation Council on September 21 , 1976; and, WHEREAS, the Fort Worth City Council approved the transportation plan for elderly and handicapped on May 17 , 1977 in M&C TE-163; and, O CITY OF FORT wORTO WHEREAS, grant applications for federal funds making possible the Mobility Impaired Transportation Service (MITS) project: specifically related to the elderly and handicapped plan have been submitted by the City of Fort Worth and approved by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, and other local grant approvals by UMTA have specifically mentioned the necessity to implement program projects for use by the elderly and handicapped; and, WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, issued proposed regulations in the Federal Register of June 8, 1978, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap" in relation to federally assisted programs and activities of the Federal Aviation Administration, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration in response to the April 28, 1976 Presidential Executive Order No. 11914; and, WHEREAS, the June 8, 1978 regulations appear to be inconsistent with the previous directives issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation and mandate a response that allows no options for the local determination of service by local governments and the local elderly and handicapped population which may be more functionally valid and economically feasible; and, WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council and the City of Fort Worth wish to meet the desires of the local elderly and handicapped persons and thereby provide the most effective and efficient service which can be offered through programs unique to the Fort Worth-Dallas urbanized areas while fulfilling the intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Presidential Executive Order No. 11914; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FORT WORTH CITY COUNCIL: 1. That the Fort Worth City Council does reaffirm its commitment to the support of adequate transportation services to the elderly and handicapped provided by local government and consistent with the expressed mobility requirements of the local handicapped com- munity ; t O CT" OF FORT WORTH 2. That the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, be requested to consider modification of the proposed regulations to i permit local governments to make decisions for all transportation services used by the elderly and handicapped while fulfilling the intent of the federal statutes and the Presidential Executive Order concerning such services; 3. That ffe U.S. Department of Transportation , Office of the Secretary, be urged to conduct additional regional public hearings to obtain a representative, nationwide review and comment on the proposed regulation; 4. That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, members of the Fort Worth-Dallas Congressional delegation, other appropriate Congressional members , and the Governor of the State of Texas; 5• That this resolution be in full force and effect on its adoption by City Council. APPROVED BY THE FORT WORTH CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST,2.al_, 1978. O .L"fl CITY OF FORT Won=