. . . 

Stole Council on Developmental Disabilities 

• web ill • www.scdd.co.gov • emo~ • counc~@scdd.co.gov 

April 22, 2015 

Secretary Anthony Foxx 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

1507 21st Street. Suite 210 

Sacramento. CA 95811 

RE: Support for Access Services' Petition for Rulemaking 

Dear Secreta I)' F oxx: 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

Edmund G. Brown Jr. 

Governor 

1916) 322-8481 

1916) 443-4957 fox 

1916) 324-8420 nY 

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is a California state agency 

mandated to create policies and promote services that will improve the lives of the 

300,000+ people with developmental disabilities in this state. Members of the SCDD 

are appointed by the Governor. SCDD's Los Angeles office services nearly one-third of 

those individuals, who have either intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, 

epilepsy, or other disabilities. Thousands of our constituents are riders of Access 

Services. 

We are writing in support of Access Services' Petition for Rulemaking that asks for an 

amendment to the Department of Transportation's regulations concerning the 

calculation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit fares. 

Access currently uses a simple, two-tier coordinated fare that has been in existence for 

nearly twenty years. It was implemented after consultation with the disability community 

and a number of advocacy groups; it is a coordinated fare among all of the 43 

municipalities who are member organizations of Access; and it is easy for riders to 

understand. 

We are very concerned that any new fare system will be significantly more complex and 

lead to confusion among our clients. We are also concerned that a new fare system will 

lead to higher fares for many clients, most of whom live on fixed low incomes. 

"The Council advocates, promotes & implements policies and practices that achieve self-determination, 

independence, productivity & inclusion in all aspects of community life for Californians with developmental 

disabilities and their families." 

s 10-150429-009 
Secretary Anthony Foxx 

Page2 

April 22, 2015 

The ADA has provided significant improvements for people with disabilities in the last 25 

years. The Federal Transit Administration deserves credit for ensuring that transit 

agencies comply with the regulations. However, in this instance, we would urge the 

Department to amend the regulations to allow Access' coordinated fare to continue as it 

has for the last two decades. 

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me if you wish further information at 

916-322-8481 or via email at: aaron.carruthers@scdd.ca.gov. 

s££-

Aaron Carruthers r.o,... 

Acting Executive Director 

s 10-150429-009 
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State Council on 

Developmental Disabilities 

1507 21 t1 Street, Suite 210 

Sacramento, CA 95811 

secretary Anthony Foxx 

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