Minutes to the Sixth Meeting of the
Accessible Transportation Standards Development Committee (T-SDC)
Canadian Standards Association
5060 Spectrum Way
Mississauga ON
July 24 - 25, 2006
Members Present:
- Al Cormier, Cor Al Services, Chair
- George Ansell, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (represented by Terry Bryson)
- Spiros Bastas, Royal Taxi
- Jo-Ann Bentley, Canadian Hearing Society
- James Bisson, Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario/City of Mississauga
- Earl Black, Independent Living Resource Centre
- Mark Brose, Transportation Action Now
- Silvan Bruno, GO Transit
- Katrina Carrera, Association des municipalités Francophones de l'Ontario (represented by Tracy Christianson)
- David Carroll, Ontario Motor Coach Association and School Bus Association
- Sandy Chan, Ministry of Education (represented by Vanissa Szeto)
- Alex Grant, HAGI Community Services for Independence
- Blyth Helman, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
- Glenn Johnston, Toronto Transit Commission
- Kim Lambert, Ministry of Transportation
- Caroline Lonsdale, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Lesley Anne MacDonald, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
- Alex Milojevic, Association of Municipalties of Ontario, City of Brampton
- Susan Enid Mintz, The Kidney Foundation of Canada (July 25 only)
- Tim Nolan, Council of Ontario Universities (Teleconference on July 24 only)
- Kelly Palecnzy, Ontario Community Transportation Association
- Danielle Svec, Life Skills Institute (Bloorview Kids Rehab)
- Valmay Barkey, Ontario Community Support Association
- Tanya Wanio, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Absent Members:
- Tony Carnovale, Community Living Ontario
- Sharon Hambleton, Ontario Federation of Labour
- Lloyd Pollock, Dignity Transportation Incorporated
Support Unit:
- Kevin Boehmer, Canadian Standards Association
- Bob Sherman, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
- Mike Dodd, Canadian Standards Association, Transportation SDC Secretary
- Linda Markowsky, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
- Mansur Rahim, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario Liaison
- Jill Sawchuk, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
- Michael Sullivan, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
- Nelly Tion, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
- Scot Weeres, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
M6.1 Call to Order
M. Dodd, project manager at Canadian Standards Association, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. on July 24.
M6.2 Housekeeping and Facility Safety
M. Dodd advised members of the housekeeping issues and facility safety procedures for the meeting.
M6.3 Opening Remarks and Membership Introductions
A. Cormier welcomed everyone to the meeting. A. Cormier noted the work of the committee and outlined the direction and goals for the sixth meeting of the Transportation Standards Development Committee (T-SDC).
M6.4 Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was accepted as presented.
M6.5 Minutes to the Last Meeting
The minutes to Meeting 5, held June 22 - 23, 2006, were sent out by e-mail on July 5, 2006. Comments were received from G. Ansell, A. Cormier J. Bentley, R. Barnes C. Lonsdale, T. Wanio and incorporated into the draft minutes.
L.A. MacDonald noted that the minutes did not reflect that the CNIB wants all fixed route stops announced and that the route be announced both visually and audibly before the passenger boards the conveyance.
With the addition of L. A. MacDonald’s comment, the committee accepted the minutes to the fifth meeting.
M6.6 Membership
The membership of the T-SDC was reviewed. It was noted that for this meeting, G. Ansell would be represented by T. Bryson, K. Carrera would be represented by T. Christianson and T. Nolan would be attending by teleconference.
M6.7 Action Items from the Last Meeting
(a) Draft 4 was distributed on July 5 to the T-SDC by CSA.
(b) The T-SDC to submit comments on Draft 4 by July 17.
(c) CSA compiled the comments and submitted them to the T-SDC.
(d) Symbol of Accessibility
M. Sullivan reported that he had researched the use of the Symbol of Accessibility from information reviewed from several jurisdictions. He noted that that symbol has been widely accepted as indication a vehicle is accessible for people with a physical disability.
It was pointed out that the Canadian Hearing Society and the CNIB do not identify with the symbol. The Support Unit will review the information provided as well as the comments from the Committee members and develop options for consideration by the Committee at meeting 7.
(e) Memo from Customer Service Committee to Transportation Committee
J. Sandys has sent a memo to A. Cormier regarding disruption of service suggesting that the CS-SDC had addressed the issue in Clause 4.2.3 in the CS draft as follows:
4.2.3 Temporary Barriers
Where temporary barriers to accessible customer service occur, persons and organizations shall inform potential customers in a timely fashion of the anticipated duration of the disruption.
(f) Notice of disruption of accessibility equipment
In response to a comment at Meeting 5, staff recommends the following as a new Clause 4.24 the standard:
“The transportation provider shall communicate disruptions in accessibility equipment or features in a widely accessible manner at the earliest opportunity to allow passengers to make alternative arrangements.
The transportation provider shall provide relevant information on disruptions through various communications channels, including websites, phone system, and TTY.
When disruptions occur during the journey, the transportation provider shall communicate relevant information to passengers such that alternative arrangements can be made.
When accessibility equipment or features are disrupted, the transportation provider shall take reasonable steps to accommodate persons with disabilities who would otherwise use the equipment or feature.”
The Committee accepted the recommendation.
M6.8 Work in Progress / Task Force Reports
Clause-by-clause review of Draft 4 of the Initial Proposed Transportation Accessibility Standard, including technical requirements, classes and implementation schedules. Task Forces reported on activities at respective clauses.
- On-Demand
- The On-Demand task force agreed to hold a meeting on Friday July 28 from 9 am – 12 noon at 777 Bay Street in Conference Room 13A. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss comments on the On-demand clause.
- Referencing of Standards
- The task force met and agreed to not reference the CSA Standard but to make reference that all conveyances should comply with applicable legislation and regulation.
- Specialized Transit
- The Specialized Transit task Force had not met since the last meeting and agreed to hold a meeting on Wednesday August 9 and 16 from 1 to 4 pm at 777 Bay Street in Conference Room 13A. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss comments on the Specialized Transit Clause clause.
M.6.8.1 Comments from D Carroll of OMCA were received and the letter was distributed to the Committee. D. Carroll reviewed the letter with the T-SDC. The OMCA recommends:
- There be no requirement to retrofit buses to meet the standards.
- The standard should require 100% system accessibility by persons with disabilities as opposed to requiring bus operators to make 100% of their fleet accessible. This can be achieved through:
- An advanced notice service standard similar to the approach used in the ADA and the Inter-city Bus Code of Practice
- Determine a reasonable percentage of the overall fleet that needs to be fully accessible having regard to the demand and utilization rates by persons with disabilities.
The Committee agreed to consider these comments during the review of the standard.
Comments submitted by members on the Draft 4 version of the proposed standard were reviewed. Changes will be made and a Draft 5 version will be sent to members. Some discussion included:
Clause 4.19
- L. MacDonald proposes all stops for fixed route, announced in the first implementation timeframe of 2010.
- L. MacDonald proposes Option B, of the transportation provider or operator announcing and displaying electronically all stops, be the accepted option.
Clause 4.23
- M. Brose indicated that Clause 4.23 (a) should be left in the draft standard and its discussion should be revisited. 4.23 (a) would require operators make use of accessibility related equipment or features.
- L. MacDonald to review Clause 4.23 to determine how it meets the needs of the CNIB.
Action items
- The Support unit to develop options on the use of the international symbol of accessibility.
- T. Bryson/G. Ansell will review and provide input to the SDC support unit how ferries could meet the requirements of the draft standard and in what time frame.
- ADO to give more guidance to the readiness consultants regarding the percentage of accessible taxis.
- M. Dodd to send out the Deloitte/ENTRA #2 report electronically.
- The Support Unit will review wording of Clause 4.23 for overlap with other elements of the standard and clarity, and propose potential edits in next iteration of draft standard. Support unit to research how federal regulations, codes of practice, and policies address the matter of offering assistance.
- MTO to provide legal opinion re. rear entry taxis prior to the On-Demand task group meeting.
- CSA to determine status of CSA interactive devices standard, pertaining accessibility of Fare Payment and Ticketing equipment.
- Support Unit to assess the level of detail/clarity of the Emergencies Clause and propose new clause.
- Transit representatives to propose potential sub-classes (e.g., based on population size) and related implementation schedules for transit related requirements under Clause 4.
M6.9 Readiness and Costing Assessments
A presentation was made by consultants from Deloitte and ENTRA on the readiness and costing analysis.
- The members of the T-SDC are to review Pages 73-75 of the report and to submit any comments to M. Dodd at CSA by August 8 any suggestions they might have for alternative scenario developments.
- Day 1 of the August meeting (August 28) will be a facilitated workshop session to review costing scenarios.
- Support unit will develop a detailed agenda for the August 28 workshop.
M6.10 Review/Update of the T-SDC Work Plan
| Meeting |
Milestones and
Deliverables |
Status |
Comments |
5
June 22, 23 |
Agree to classes and progressive implementation timeframes
Review/update committee work plan
Prepare meeting minutes/progress report
Submit progress report to Minister |
In progress |
Review Draft 3, Revision 1
Refine technical requirements
Finalize classes
Identify preliminary implementation criteria/schedules
Receive readiness and costing input
Define work required to prepare Draft 4 |
6
July 24, 25 |
Reach consensus on intitial proposed standard
Review/update committee workplan
Prepare meeting minutes/progress report
Submit progress report to Minister |
In progress, revisions made to the draft.
Plan was reviewed.
Minutes prepared. |
Review (selected) comments/issues on Draft 4
Finalize technical requirements, classes and implementation schedules
Receive readiness and costing input
Define potential work required to prepare Draft 5 |
7
August 28, 29 |
Costing workshop
Reach consensus on initial proposed standard
Review/update committee work plan
Prepare meeting minutes/progress report
Submit progress report to Minister |
|
Review (selected) comments/issues on Draft 5
Detailed cost breakdown
Finalize technical requirements, classes and implementation schedules
|
8
October 3,4 |
Reach consensus on final proposed standard
Review/update committee work plan
Prepare meeting minutes/progress report
Submit progress report to Minister |
|
Finalize technical requirements, classes and implementation schedules
Hold public review vote on initial proposed standard |
9
Fall 2006
(estimated, following Public Review) |
Consider public review comments
Reach consensus on final proposed standard
Review/update committee work plan
Prepare meeting minutes/progress report
Submit progress report to Minister |
|
|
M6.11 New Business
M6.11.1 M. Brose - Suggested Edits
M. Brose proposed some changes in the following areas:
- Maintenance
- Yellow school bus accessibility
- Strip at top of stair should be textured as well
- Accessibility at loading sites
Chair asked M. Brose to submit proposed changes in writing in advance of next meeting.
An opinion was expressed that members should submit their comments in writing so the other members could review the written comment in context with the rest of the draft.
A. Milojevic proposed that the entire draft standard be re-opened for review and changes. The chair rejected the motion.
M6.11.2 People with disabilities learning to drive
J. Bentley requested that consideration be given to the need for appropriate modified vehicles be made available to enable people with disabilities to learn to drive. In addition, to have driver instruction programs made available in a manner that meets the needs of people who are deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing.
Chair identified this as a service issue and is being covered by Customer Service.
K. Lambert noted that there is ongoing dialogue within MTO on this matter and that is where the matter belongs.
The ADO will consider if it is adequately covered by the Customer Service Committee and if it needs to be addressed by other SDCs.
M6.12 Next Meeting
M6.12.1 Meeting 7
Meeting 7 of the T-SDC is scheduled for
Date: August 28 and 29, 2006
Place: Canadian Standards Association
Address: 5060 Spectrum Way
Mississauga ON L4W 5N6
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on August 28, 2006
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on August 29, 2006
M6.12.2 Meeting 8
Meeting 8 of the T-SDC is scheduled for
Date: October 3 and 4, 2006
Place: Canadian Standards Association
Address: 5060 Spectrum Way
Mississauga ON L4W 5N6
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on October 3, 2006
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2006
M6.13 Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. on July 25, 2006.