Independent Perspective 1727 with guest Michael Kearns, County Clerk, about the "Rate Your Ride WNY" program.

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Michael Kearns, County Clerk of Erie County, and I'm your host, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Mr. Kearns.

Guest:  Thank you for having me.

Host:  It's our pleasure. You're here because your office is behind a push to improve public transportation for people with disabilities and for all individuals by finding out their needs, with the Rate Your Ride Western New York survey. Could you tell us what all that encompasses?

Guest:  Sure. Thank you for having me Ernie. This is an important survey. We are partnering with the Western New York Law Center, Columbia Law School to make sure that we, it is designed to gather information to improve public transportation in Erie and Niagara counties. It's a short survey, it's approximately 10 minutes to complete. But it's very important to gather this information so we can bring this information back to the public and be their voice.

Host:  Great and what are the three modalities of public transportation that are covered in the survey?

Guest:  Sure. What we ask is have you used public transportation in the past six months, of course, there's big bus so if you're taking any type of bus, light rail, and of course paratransit.

Host:  Yes, and most people have probably seen the paratransit access line vans on the road, and they are for a particular population. Can you tell us who they are dedicated to serve?

Guest:  Sure, they're working predominantly with the disabled community, of course our senior citizens and our veterans and they're an important part of the American Disability Act (ADA) which was passed to integrate many individuals into our community.

Host:  Very good. And I'm if someone has to qualify to be eligible for the paratransit access line, and there is an attempt by the public to make changes in that. And the fact that Stephanie Speaker, a grassroots advocate for the disabled seniors and veterans, has been in your publicity pictures means that you're integrating her point of view into this discussion. What is it that she is trying to do?

Guest:  I was a New York State Assembly member, she brought the idea of expanding paratransit, as you know, the ADA was a historic legislation to integrate people with disabilities in the community. However, that standard needs to expand. There are jobs looking for people, many people with disability committee have a high unemployment rate. And what we're trying to do is we're trying to expand access through New York State to the New York State Legislature and making our public authorities more accountable to the disability community.

Host:  And when you say expand access, at present, there's a limit of distance from fixed route bus systems that somebody has to be within to avail themselves of paratransit and you were thinking of expanding that, what steps have been taken?

Guest:  I filed legislation as a New York State Assembly member that was also co-sponsored by Senator Kennedy. We've been able to pass it in the Senate. We've been working with our partners in the disability community. Many of our advocates are hoping this is the year it's passed. Senator Kennedy was able to secure $750,000 to his Transportation Committee as chairman. So we know that with sprawl that there's an expansion and opportunities for jobs, but set schedules there have been, you know, lines that have been cut by the NFTA and other public transportation providers in New York State and we're trying to get people's opinion on how we can improve public transportation not only for the disability community but for everyone.

Host:  Oh, very worthy goal. Would you believe I'm old enough to remember when there were no wheelchair lift vans on fixed route buses? I'm that old! (Laughter)

Guest:  No, you're not old.

Host:  Well, actually we're running low on time, Mr. Kearns. If you could tell us how people can reach you if they have questions about the survey?

Guest:  You can go to rateyourridewny.com and fill out the survey, that would be great.

Host:  Thank you so much for being with us, sir.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Michael Kearns, the County Clerk of Erie County, and I've been your host Ernie Churchwell.