Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 27, 2009

Accessibility Advisory Committee seeks new members

Volunteers serve as voice for riders with disabilities, senior citizens

Metro is looking for riders with disabilities and senior citizens to fill six available positions on the volunteer Accessibility Advisory Committee (formerly known as the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee). Positions are available for District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Fairfax County, Arlington County and City of Alexandria residents.

Metro is looking for senior citizens or people with disabilities who ride Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess, and are not Metro employees, contractors or elected officials to fill the vacancies. All positions are unpaid. Metro’s General Manager will make the final selection of candidates.

The 18-member committee ideally would consist of six individuals each from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The committee advises Metro on ways to improve Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess services. The committee’s efforts have resulted in numerous service upgrades, including gap reducers, which make it easier for riders who use wheelchairs to board Metrorail trains.

Individuals on the committee will represent a cross section of the entire region. Members are people who are senior citizens and/or have the ability to give personal perspectives on a diverse representation of disabilities, such as blindness or low-vision, mobility disability, deafness or hard of hearing, audio-sensory disability, speech disability, neurological disability, cognitive or other disability. The committee includes people with different riding patterns, people who are transit-dependent, people who travel short distances and others who travel long distances.

Applications can be found at http://www.wmata.com/aac. Applications also are available at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC, or by calling 202-962-6060. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Monday, March 30.

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News release issued at 9:00 am, February 27, 2009.