Local Transportation
The Washington Center housing facilities are within close proximity to the Metro (subway) system. The Washington Center will work with each student on a case-by-case basis to provide an orientation t o, and information on how to utilize public transportation. The Washington Center will provide mobility training when and if necessary. In addition, The Washington Center will conduct an orientation to answer questions about transportation, general accessibility issues, accommodations, internship sites, and special needs.
Tips for Using the Washington Metropolitan Metro Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) Metro System
Fares
Metro has reduced fares for people with disabilities. To be eligible for reduced fares, students must obtain a Metro Disabled ID. This ID card is free and will be issued, without a waiting period, to people who qualify. An application for this ID card can be obtained at 600 Fifth Street, NW , and at some regional locations by appointment only. For information on reduced fares, call 202-962-1245, TTY 202-628-8973, or visit: http://wmata.com/riding/senior_disabled_id.cfm
Broken Elevators and Escalators
Regular repairs and outages can and do affect elevators and escalators at various Metro stations. Although an effort is made to announce outages in advance, announcements can be hard to understand in crowded stations. Students are strongly advised to call ahead or check the website for up-to-date information.
To find out about out of service elevators and escalators, call Metro Mobility Link at 202-962-1212 which has 24-hour recorded information on route changes and out of service elevators. Students can also subscribe to an e-mail list that will notify them of elevator outages. To subscribe to the list, go to: http://www.wmata.com/riding/ellen/ellen.cfm
Individual Rights under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
If a person is at a Metro station where the elevator is not working, the Metro system, which is funded by the federal government and therefore subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide this person with an alternative means of transportation.
Should a person leave the train, not knowing he/she is in a station with a broken elevato r, the employees at the station may inform the person that she/he should get back on the train to the next station where a shuttle will be available to transport the person to street level where he/she needs to go. Although there may be a wait for the shuttle, Metro does make an effort to transport people in as timely a manner as possible.
Multiple Elevators
Some Metro stations have multiple floors, which require one elevator to mezzanine level (where fare cards can be purchased) and a second elevator to go down to the platform level (where trains arrive and depart).
Inside the Metro Station
Metro trains, particularly during rush hour on weekdays, are often packed full of people, which may make it difficult for students with certain types of disabilities to board. Rules are posted in the Metro stations giving people with disabilities and senior citizens first access onto the train and to each car's limited seating. If a train is particularly crowded, students may want to look at the digital signs inside the stations, which tell them when the next train will arrive. Often, if two trains are running back to back, the second train is much less crowded than the first.
For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
There are lights on the floor of the platform that start to flash when the train is about to arrive. There are also signs in some Metro stations (digital signs hanging from overhead) that will tell users the approximate wait time for the next train or will identify if a train is approaching the station.
Wheelchairs on the Trains
When taking a wheelchair onto the Metro trains, students will find that there are specific areas in the front and back of most cars where extra space is available. Also, many of the trains have locks on the floor in these areas where people can lock in their wheelchair so it does not start to move while the train is moving. Sometimes the wheelchair brakes are not enough to prevent the chair from moving during the train ride.
Using the Metro Bus System: Getting Lift-Equipped Buses
The Metro Bus system goes throughout Washington, D.C. and into some parts of Maryland and Virginia . Metro Buses are often not equipped with wheelchair lifts.
However, one can order a bus with a wheelchair lift by calling 202-962-1825 or by visiting http://wmata.com/metrobus/LIFT.cfm
On- call service is available seven days a week on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is not required; advanced scheduling is recommended.
Metro Access Service:
There is a program called Metro Access that provides door-to-door service for those who are not able to ride the buses at all. For more information, go to http://wmata.com/metroaccess/access_form.cfm
Other Metro Tips:
Metro provides "Tips for Riding Metro for People with Disabilities." This information can be found at: http://www.wmata.com/riding/disability_tips.pdf |
