July 29, 2022

Texas Transportation Commission

Dear Chair Bugg and Commissioners,

As you know, TxDOT staff have done terrific work in the last couple of years to improve the approach of the State of Texas in meeting both the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The updates to the TxDOT ADA Transition Plan have included work to identify the specific need and cost of bringing all TxDOT on-system facilities up to inclusive ADA standards. This TxDOT assessment estimated that adding or fixing all on-system missing and broken sidewalks, ramps and safe crossings across the state would cost $1.56 billion.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the State of Texas and its political subdivisions must ensure that it administers its transportation activities, services, and programs in a manner to provide meaningful equal access for qualified persons with disabilities.

The staff proposal for the Unified Transportation Program includes a suggestion that the American with Disabilities Act Pedestrian Program in Funding Category 10 - Supplemental Transportation Programs be increased by $5 million a year.

We, organizations and community groups working for and representing people across the State of Texas, are writing today to request that you increase the funding for the ADA Transition Plan from the proposed $5 million to $25 million a year in the FY2023 Unified Transportation Program.

Further, we request that over the next year, TxDOT explore the possibility of developing a reasonable prioritization scheme to allow the TTC to fully commit to building or fixing sidewalks, ramps, and crossings to serve as many people as possible with as much benefit as possible – within the ten year time frame of the UTP.

While we believe it would be well worth it, this might not result in a commitment next year of $156 million a year to the ADA Pedestrian Program – which would meet the estimated need in ten years. However, TxDOT should at least understand and share the potential benefits of this scale of investment in an inclusive transportation system for all Texans. Further, we ask that this deliberation and analysis can include meaningful input and discussion from the diverse people of Texas including people of varying abilities and transportation needs, to ensure the best decision can be made next year in the FY2024 UTP process.

Thank you for all that you do to provide affordable, safe multimodal mobility and access for the people of Texas regardless of age, ability, or chosen mode of transportation.

Sincerely,

Jay Blazek Crossley