Rep. Molinaro introduces bill to compel Amtrak compliance with ADA

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act, which is designed to compel Amtrak to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

According to Molinaro, Amtrak received $275 million in federal funds for accessibility upgrades from 2017 to 2021, and it continues to receive near this amount through 2025. However, as of July 2023, Amtrak has only made 30% of its 385 stations accessible to those with disabilities.

The newly introduced bill mandates Amtrak to address the accessibility upgrades by directing the agency to commission a report to Congress on its ADA compliance for all its trains and rail stations. The report also requires Amtrak to provide a deadline for when the upgrades will be completed by.

“Thirty years after the Americans with Disabilities Act passed – Amtrak’s leadership still has work to do to meet the law and make trains and rail stations accessible to individuals of all disabilities. My bipartisan bill forces the issue,” said Molinaro, a Republican who represents New York’s 19th Congressional District.

Molinaro introduced this bill with U.S. Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Andre Carson (D-IN), along with Dels. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Jenniffer Gonzales-Colon (R-PR).