Department of Transport An Roinn Iompair. Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005 TRANSPORT ACCESS FOR ALL

Transcription

1 Department of Transport An Roinn Iompair Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005 TRANSPORT ACCESS FOR ALL Progress Report for the period January to June 2009 Part 3 smartertravel >>>

2 National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group Fifth Progress Report January June 2009 Tabular Report Commitment (sectoral plan / T2016 / APG) Make all urban buses accessible to Performance indicator accessibility of the urban bus fleet. In the context of the proposed Public Transport Regulation Bill, consideration will be given to the provision of a mechanism to facilitate the attachment of Targets /timeframes Progress BUS: Urban Bus Services % of the Bus Átha Cliath (BAC) fleet is composed of low-floor, wheelchair accessible buses and 115 routes are now served by such buses. In addition, Nitelink services together with South Coast and North Coast tours are also operated with low-floor, wheelchair accessible buses. The company continues to introduce new accessible buses on a route-by-route basis. This approach was agreed with the Public Transport Accessibility Committee. 2. Bus Éireann (BÉ) has met its objective of the Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford fleets being entirely composed of low-floor, accessible buses. 3. In other urban areas currently served with smaller buses that are not wheelchair accessible, BÉ s policy is to replace those vehicles with wheelchair accessible buses. It is envisaged that this process will be completed by The DTA Act 2008 The General Scheme of a Public Transport Regulation Bill was provides that all public approved by Government in January The drafting of the Bill is transport services contracts close to completion and it is the intention of the Minister for Transport in respect of the GDA shall to seek Government approval to publication of the Bill in It is provide for, inter alia, hoped that the Bill can progress through the Oireachtas and be enacted accessibility standards. before the end of Under the proposed (PTR) Public Transport Regulation Bill this provision will be extended

3 conditions, including accessibility conditions, to the grant of bus licences. nationwide. The first contracts are being prepared and will be concluded before 2 nd December In addition under the proposed PTR Bill the minimum accessibility standards may be imposed on all bus route licences. BUS: Bus Stops Bring all bus stops up to accessibility standards. number of accessible bus stops BÁC: 45% of bus stops in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) have been upgraded and work in that regard is ongoing. Bus stops are also being upgraded in the GDA on routes that form part of the Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) Programme. 2. BÉ: Bus stops are being upgraded in the provincial cities in conjunction with the construction of QBCs/Green Routes. 3. The Department of Transport (DoT) liaises with officials of the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government (DoEHLG) as matters arise with a view to ensuring that the built environment around public transport infrastructure is also accessible. In that regard, DoEHLG is now represented on the Public Transport Accessibility Committee (PTAC) and the DoT is represented on the Disability Act Sectoral Plan Advisory Committee of DoEHLG. In addition, the DoT is working with local authorities by way of the County & City Managers Association and the accessibility committee of the Local Government Management Services Board. One example of this cooperation is the development of accessible stops to interact with the new wheelchair accessible coaches. BUS: Inter-City Coach Services Replace Now that they are 2015 BÉ has purchased a number of the new generation wheelchair accessible

4 inaccessible coaches with coaches that are accessible to Make all bus stations accessible to Make all suburban trains accessible to becoming available, the introduction into Ireland of wheelchair accessible coaches that have on-board features to assist number of bus stations that have features to cater for all public transport users including number of suburban trains that are accessible. coaches and two routes Navan/Dublin Airport/Dublin City University and Waterford/Cork have been identified for in-service trials. Navan/Dublin Airport/Dublin City University (DCU) Three bus stops identified for conversion to full accessibility Navan (completed), Dublin Airport (stop usable but wheelchair waiting area requires marking) and Collins Avenue at DCU (Quality Bus Network Project Office liaising with relevant concerns to agree utility accommodations and corresponding construction of the accessible bus stop. It is hoped to complete work in Autumn 2009). Waterford/Cork Live pilot in operation using three accessible stops Waterford Bus Station, Castlemartyr and Parnell Place Bus Station Cork. BUS: Bus Stations 2007 BÉ is committed to making its bus stations accessible to disabilities. In this regard, all of the company s bus stations have generally been brought up to accessibility standards, with the exception of those in Limerick and Galway (which form part of larger development proposals) and Rosslare. Work to facilitate the transfer of the existing bus garage in Galway to a new site has begun. This in turn will facilitate work on the larger development proposal (Galway Master Plan) which is due to include a new accessible bus station. The bus station in Rosslare is currently under review. HEAVY RAIL: Suburban Passenger Trains 2007 The refurbishment of the older DART (electric) carriages has been completed. All DART carriages for the Dublin suburban rail network are now accessible. The diesel railcars on the Dublin and Cork commuter rail networks are also accessible.

5 Make all Inter-City passenger trains accessible to Make all railway stations accessible to Dublin s light rail service Luas is an accessible service and has been designed from the outset to be so. Improve the accessibility of taxis and hackneys accessibility of Inter-City passenger trains. number of railway stations that have features to cater for all public transport users including impairments Accessibility features of Luas system being monitored with a view to enhancement as necessary. Overall to ensure that there is adequate provision HEAVY RAIL: Inter-City Passenger Trains 2009 Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) is in the process of replacing its Inter-City passenger fleet. All of this new rolling stock is being designed to meet the UK Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. All scheduled interurban passenger rail services will be provided with this rolling stock by HEAVY RAIL: Railway Stations Since 2000, all new railway stations have been designed and constructed in accordance with accessibility standards/best international practice. 2. An accessibility refurbishment programme to make the existing railway stations accessible is underway on a railway line by railway line basis. 3. It is anticipated that the accessibility upgrade programme will be completed before 2015, in line with the Transport Sectoral Plan. LIGHT RAIL While the existing service is already accessible, developments in technology and best international practice are being monitored with a view to enhancing the Luas system. Accessibility will be a core design feature of any extensions to the system. TAXIS AND HACKNEYS As below As below

6 for of taxis and hackney services that are: 1. Accessible 2. Available and 3. Affordable Specifically: Licence of Dispatch Operators. Development of a database of accessible SPSVs. Information is accessible. User friendly and accessible complaints system. Consideration of a subsidy scheme for Wheelchair Accessible Taxis and Hackneys Mandatory Skills Development Programme for all new SPSV drivers Commission Offices September 2009 In place In place In place Under consideration July 2009 This process has commenced as Dispatch Operators are undergoing the Skills Development test since 1 st July and fulfilling the other licensing conditions as set down by the CTR. This information is available by calling the CTR on and the register is also available to the Irish Wheelchair Association and other disability groups. All documentation is available in a range of accessible formats including Braille, large print and audiotapes upon request. The CTR has worked with the Irish Council for the Blind in creating a more accessible complaints form that is easily readable in various Braille machines and are always looking at ways to improve the information. The CTR is in discussions with the DoT in relation to this matter and hope to have a decision made later in This commenced in May 2009 and the first test took place on the 1 st July. All existing SPSVs will undertake the test from December 2009 The CTR s offices will be fully accessible by the end of 2009.

7 Implementation of Regulation 1107/2006 of the European Council and the European Parliament setting out the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when they travel by air. Review the current accessibility state of Maritime Passenger Transport Services and develop action plans to address any deficiencies identified where practicable. accessibility of airport and airline services. All passenger ship owners /operators offered an access audit on their ships and the landing places to and from which they operate. Audits conducted for those who take up the offer. AIR TRAVEL Regulation 1107/2006 came into effect on 26 July 2008 and assistance is being provided at all relevant Irish Airports for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when traveling by air. The Commission for Aviation Regulation is the enforcement body in respect of the full implementation of Regulation 1107/2006 in Ireland. MARITIME PASSENGER TRANSPORT June 2009 All passenger ship owners/operators have been offered access audits on their ships and the landing places to and from which they operate. 20 owners/operators have agreed to the audit involving 38 vessels and the Department will go to tender in July 2009 to appoint an access auditor to carry out the audits. December 2009 Draft general guidelines to assist and support marine passenger transport service operators in End 2009 Draft guidelines have been prepared in conjunction with the NDA, they are due to go for consultation to the members of the Maritime Passenger Transport Forum in July 2009 with a view towards publication of the final version by end December 2009.

8 making their services more accessible to passengers with disabilities. Prepare primary legislation to give enhanced enabling powers to the Minister to regulate and develop codes of practice to improve accessibility on passenger ships. Accessibility audits carried out on the four main ferry ports (Cork, Dun Laoghaire, Rosslare and Dublin) Actions implemented on foot of the recommendations of the audits of the four main ferry ports. End 2010 End 2009 End 2010 The Merchant Shipping Bill 2009 was published in May Cork has been approved by the Department to proceed with year 2 of Accessibility Audit Implementation for the Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal with Departmental funding of 28,850. Tenders are being prepared to implement the work referred to above.

9 Improvements to infrastructure and vehicles must be augmented by appropriate training if public transport services are to become as accessible as possible for people with mobility, sensory and cognitive Increased provision of disability awareness training All passenger ship operators offered disability awareness training End 2009 DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING 1. Disability awareness training already underway in BÁC, BÉ and IÉ. 2. BÁC provides accessibility and disability awareness training for all staff. The new driver certificate of professional competence, which all BÁC drivers have to undertake, will include a BÁC specific accessibility and disability awareness module. 3. BÉ: Once-off programme completed for all staff. 4. Luas: Comprehensive training has already been provided to all staff members by Veolia Transport and the RPA and will remain going as required. Two more training courses were held in the first half of 2009, one in Athlone and one in Waterford, to date approximately 70 passenger ship operators have received training. Providers of public transport services should be advised by Disability User Groups in the design and provision of their 4 main ferry port Staff trained in disability awareness Public transport providers have access to disability user groups to advise them on accessibility matters. End 2010 Dublin Port has recently provided disability awareness training to their relevant employees. DISABILITY USER GROUPS 1. Disability user groups have already been established by BÁC, BÉ, IÉ and the RPA/Veolia Transport (Luas). 2. The CTR actively engages with a number of national, regional and local disability bodies and representative groups to ensure that ongoing policy formulation takes into account the views of service users with particular requirements.

10 services. Part 5 Section 47: Take all reasonable measures to employ disabilities. A minimum 3% target will apply The Maritime Passenger Transport Forum which was set up in December 2006, to continue with new terms of reference. The Forum will oversee the implementation of the recommendations of its report published in November All members agreed to the continuation of the Forum and to the new terms of reference at the Forum meeting in March Implementation of the requirements of the Disability Act in the Department of Transport The Department of Transport is taking measures to ensure that it at least meets the 3% target. The agreed national target figures (3%) for employment of persons with a disability has been met and exceeded over the past three years by Department of Transport. Section 48: Establish a monitoring committee to encourage compliance by public bodies with the 3% employment Public Bodies to comply with 3% target. Monitoring Committee to report to Minister and NDA by 30 June each year. Department of Transport report approved by the Minister and submitted to the NDA in July 2009.

11 target. Monitoring committees will report to the NDA by June 30 each year. Each public body must report by 31 March to the monitoring committee. Each public body must have a system in place for monitoring.