Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 5, 2012

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 join the volunteer Accessibility Advisory Committee. Positions are available for District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, Arlington County and City of Alexandria residents.

The 20-member committee consists of six individuals each from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and two at-large members. 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.

Metro is looking for customers 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 Board of Directors will make the final selection of candidates.

Individuals on the committee represent a cross section of the entire region. Members are people who are seniors 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 online at Metro's website. Candidates also may call 202-962-1100 to request an application form. Completed applications may be submitted online, mailed to the WMATA Accessibility Advisory Committee at 600 Fifth Street, NW, Room 7A-01, Washington, DC 20001 or faxed to 202-962-2722. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29.

News release issued at 12:02 pm, April 5, 2012.