CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Transit Authority has recently applauded its progress toward a 100 percent accessible transit system.
Laura Saltzman is a transportation analyst for Access Living and speaking on behalf of the disability rights organization, she weighs in on CTA's quest to make all of its rail stations fully accessible to people with mobility disabilities by 2038.
"So I'm of two minds, because I would love for it to be faster. I also have to acknowledge that it is faster than it is in other places right?"
According to the CTA, nine train stations are in design or in construction stages toward becoming fully accessible and that out of 145 stations, 103 are already ABA compliant. That's about 70%.
Saltzman admits that's relatively good.
"For New York, it's a 25%. It should be 100% in both places, but in terms of simply just for a reference point- I do think that they do talk to the community," she said. "They do listen."
On behalf of the disability community, Saltzman said that existing problems include non-working elevators at around a dozen of the already ADA compliant stations. She suggests adding backup elevators to any new plans and making sure that CTA staff are trained and available for riders with disability needs.
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