Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 112226

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 112226

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-1005-11

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: DISABLED INDIVIDUAL APPROACHING METROBUS

Introduced: 10/21/2011

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 11/15/2011

Agenda Date: 11/15/2011

Agenda Item Number: 11A2

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY TO ENSURE THAT MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT (MDT) TRAINS ALL METROBUS OPERATORS TWICE A YEAR REGARDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY AND TO REQUIRE THAT METROBUS OPERATORS STOP AT METROBUS STOPS WHEN PASSENGERS ARE WAITING AT SUCH STOPS, OPEN THE FRONT DOOR, STATE THE ROUTE AND DESTINATION OF THE METROBUS IF THE AUTOMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL, PROVIDE ADEQUATE TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY TO BOARD, AND ACTIVATE THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY IF NECESSARY OR REQUESTED AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT RULES OR PROCEDURES TO EFFECTUATE THIS POLICY [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 112050]

Indexes:	DISABLED
	METROBUS

Sponsors:	Lynda Bell, Prime Sponsor
	Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	11/15/2011	11A2	Adopted				P

Regional Transportation Committee	10/24/2011	2B SUBSTITUTE	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Bruce Libhaber read into the record the title of the foregoing proposed resolution. In response to Commissioner Heyman’s inquiry, Assistant County Attorney Libhaber noted that Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) was currently in compliance with the established federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and the intent of the proposed resolution was to ensure bus operators were very aware of the rules and regulations. Therefore, the additional training requirements would exceed the current federal ADA requirements. Discussion ensued regarding the intent of the proposed resolution and the consequences in the event bus operators failed to comply with the mandates. Commissioners Edmonson and Heyman requested to be listed as co-sponsors. Commissioner Souto asked that security cameras be installed at key Metrobus stops throughout the County. Commissioner Moss commented that bus operators should be required to accommodate and assist disabled persons as much as possible. Mr. Denny Wood appeared before the Committee and noted that he had distributed a document outlining recommendations to improve the Metrobus system. He asked that an industry workshop with the riders be scheduled to review his recommendations. He also asked that the foregoing proposed resolution be tabled. There being no further comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	10/21/2011		Assigned	Alex S. Bokor

County Mayor	10/21/2011		Additions	Regional Transportation Committee	10/24/2011

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY TO ENSURE THAT MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT (MDT) TRAINS ALL METROBUS OPERATORS TWICE A YEAR REGARDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY AND TO REQUIRE THAT METROBUS OPERATORS STOP AT METROBUS STOPS WHEN PASSENGERS ARE WAITING AT SUCH STOPS, OPEN THE FRONT DOOR, STATE THE ROUTE AND DESTINATION OF THE METROBUS IF THE AUTOMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL ,PROVIDE ADEQUATE TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY TO BOARD, AND ACTIVATE THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY IF NECESSARY OR REQUESTED AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT RULES OR PROCEDURES TO EFFECTUATE THIS POLICY

BODY
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is committed >>to provide maximum convenience and service to all of the riding public<<1 [[to provide transit services]] regardless of disability; and
WHEREAS, MDT Metrobus rules and procedures specify that >>individuals with a disability<< [[persons with disabilities]] receive priority boarding to allow those patrons to enter and exit the Metrobus before other patrons waiting to enter or exit; and
>>WHEREAS, MDT Metrobus Operators already receive training, including �Bus Line Up Classes� regarding transportation service for individuals with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Metrobus Operation Rules and Procedure Manual, Section III Customer Procedures and Section IX Customers with a Disability; and<<
WHEREAS, [[current MDT Mertrobus rules and regulations do not specify under what circumstances a driver should wait for a patron with physical disabilities, such as a patron in a wheelchair, to approach the Metrobus even when that patron is not at the Metrobus stop when the bus passes or approaches a Metrobus stop;]] >>these requirements are designed to assure that Metrobus Operators are trained at least twice a year on all relevant rules and policies pertaining to patrons with disabilities,<<
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that it shall be the policy of this Board to >>ensure that<< [[require a]] Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) >>trains all<< Metrobus Operator>>s twice a year regarding Transportation Services for individuals with a disability and to require that Metrobus Operators<< [[to]] stop >>at Metrobus stops when passengers are waiting at such stops, open the front door, state the route and destination of the Metrobus if the Automatic Announcement System is not operational, provide adequate time for individuals with disabilities to board, and<< [[and wait for a disabled individual at or approaching a Metrobus stop unless such person has indicated that he or she is not boarding the bus, to require a Metrobus Operator to provide adequate time for a disabled individual to bard the Metrobus, to require a Metrobus Operator to]] activate the wheelchair lift >>automatically or manually<< if necessary or requested, and directing the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to implement rules or procedures to effectuate this policy.

1 The differences between the substitute and the original item are indicated as follows: words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted, words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed.