The Secretary noted that the civil rights of the disabled need to be recognized and addressed. Solutions will be need to be flexible and tailored to local needs. Our federal government is able to look beyond the mainstream and go to where people are and design programs to benefit individuals. He talked about FTA's understanding of the problems that people face in getting access. Customer focus, coordination, and ensuring that FTA supports the type of services that clients need are the agency's top three priorities.
Child care is an important issue.
Native Americans and rural folks also need transportation services. Two million familieswill see temporary assistance terminate by 2002. Welfare recipients and low income individuals all will need access to jobs through improved transportation services. FTA plans to link the size of grants to size of an area being served. Equity is also an issue in the allocation of funds.