Your Nov. 17 article “Metra’s doors open to disabled with new cars on 2 north lines” (Metro) gives mistaken impressions about my primary concerns.
Despite the obvious benefits of rail versus ground transit, many disabled people are anxiety-ridden about making the transition from paratransit to Metra’s wheelchair lift trains.
My concerns pertain to those people who have severe or multiple disabilities, such as those visually impaired and using wheelchairs who have safety concerns about riding the train independently. As a member of the RTA’s Mobility Task Force, I have consistently advocated that Metra provide complimentary paratransit services, as CTA and Pace do when safety is a factor on the lift-equipped vehicles.
Metra is to be commended, not only for its user-friendly services but also for its wisdom in contracting with Laidlaw, a quality paratransit service provider. It is unfortunate that Metra’s commitment to complimentary paratransit for severely disabled individuals will end with the mainline accessibility soon to be implemented throughout the region.
