Reasonable Modification

TARTA is committed to providing safe, reliable, courteous, accessible, and user-friendly services to its customers. To ensure equality and fairness, TARTA is committed to making reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure programs and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Requests for modifications can be made by completing the form below or by contacting Customer Service at 419-382-9901.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and public transportation (including fixed line route, demand response, and paratransit service) and mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services. The ADA’s current text includes changes made by Amendments Act following the initial passing of the Act.

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (The Authority) depends on grants from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which mandates ADA compliance. The Authority, as a provider of public transportation, is subject to the requirements of the ADA and its amendments. The Authority is subject to audits and investigations to assess compliance and may receive penalties for failure to comply.

FTA has mandated that a public entity providing fixed route or demand response service shall respond to requests by individuals with disabilities for reasonable modification to policies and practices consistent with specific guidelines as outlined in the regulations. In addition, the public entity providing fixed route or demand responsive service is required to make information available to the public detailing how to contact the public entity to request reasonable modification.

In response to these guidelines, the Authority, as a provider of fixed route and demand response service has established the following:

• Means by which passengers and the public in general are informed that individuals with disabilities may request reasonable modification in order to utilize existing fixed route or demand responsive service.
• Process describing how requests for reasonable accommodation are to be accepted, authorized or denied, with an option to appeal the initial determination if desired.
• Recertification process.
• Procedure for handling “ad hoc” requests.
• Timeline for processing.

Requests for Reasonable Modification by Passengers

Requests for reasonable modifications of policies and practices will be considered as follows:

• The reasonable modification policy applies to passengers with disabilities for use of TARTA Transit services.
• The passenger with disabilities who desires a reasonable modification will be required to describe what they believe is needed to use the Transit service.
• Requests for reasonable modification do not have to be written; however, it is desirable that whenever possible, requests for reasonable modification will be made in advance.
• The passenger does not need to use the term “reasonable modification.”

Requests for reasonable modifications of policies and practices can be denied due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Granting the request would fundamentally alter the nature of the transportation services, program or activities;
• Granting the request would create a direct threat to the health or safety;
• Without the requested modification, the individual with a disability is able to fully use the services, programs, or activities for their intended purpose;
• Request creates an undue financial and administrative burden.