LTC 461-2015 Disability Access Committee (DAC) - Recommendation MIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# 461-2015
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members the City C mmission
FROM: Jimmy Morales, City Manager
DATE: November 30, 2015
SUBJECT: Disability Access Committee (DAC) — Recommendation
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform the Commission of the
committee's concerns and recommendation regarding the purchase of Modified/Kneeling High-
Floor/Rear-End Lift Trolley Vehicles; letter attached.
All members present Sabrina Cohen, Wendy Unger, Helen Swartz, Leif Bertrand,
Russell Hartstein, Dr. Elsa Orlandini, Maria Koller, Matthew Meyer, Susanna Maroder-Rivera
voted unanimously.
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Disability Access Committee meeting of 17 Nov 2015
Re: Meeting with Transportation staff regarding impending purchase of 15 Modified/Kneeling High-
Floor/Rear-End Lift Trolley Vehicles.
The Disability Access Committee (DAC)was surprised to learn that the City of Miami Beach plans to
purchase 15 Modified/Kneeling High-Floor/Rear-End Lift Trolley Vehicles instead of the"Industry
Standard Low-Floor Vehicles).The DAC strongly urges the City/Commission to purchase"industry
standard, low-floor buses" citing the following key points:
1. Greater than 90%of the vehicles used for transit services in the Nation are Low-Floor Vehicles
(LFV)*
2. LFV provide improved accessibility for all patrons including the disabled*
3. LFV have a higher customer perception of service and reliability*
4. LFV are easier to access by disabled patrons requiring use of the ramp.
a. Disabled patrons feel safer using a low ramp rather than a higher lift from the back of
the High-Floor Vehicles
b. Disabled patrons feel more dignified using the low front ramp rather than being"on
display in traffic",causing traffic delays, using the High-Floor Vehicle's Rear Lift
c. Disabled patrons don't want the added attention and blame for causing traffic or Trolley
delays because of the extra time required for the High-Floor Vehicle's Rear Lift to
operate.Trolley patrons may blame the person using the ADA elevator for taking so
long!
5. The Maintenance for the LFV lift is"much less cost"than the High-Floor Vehicle's lift's"frequent
breakdowns"*
6. Disabled patrons/ADA passengers are required to sit in the rear of the bus on High-Floor
Vehicles which is discriminating. LFV provide seating/wheelchair space near the front,which is
more desirable and provides easy communication with the driver.
7. LFV are industry standard and have been shown to be safer and have 5-6 times less road-
calls/breakdowns for access issues. *
8. LFV provide easier access for all patrons including the elderly,tourists (with luggage), and
people with extra bags from shopping by not having to walk up stairs before getting seated.
9. DAC committee members who actually ride on public transportation provided the following
comment which we thought worth mentioning here to ground this matter from a real-life
experience;
1. "The trolleys are completely inferior to the smaller buses that run the South Beach Local
(123 Route). Ramps on buses are easier and faster to board where the lifts on the
trolleys take several minutes to operate and actually have a slight incline when raised
off the ground.This is extremely dangerous. I personally have fallen off these lifts while
being operated. Luckily,for the city I'm not a sue happy person and didn't report the
incident.The lack of knowledge of the trolley drivers on how to operate the lifts is
comical and many claim they are "broken" because they are either too lazy or too stupid
to operate. I've actually had to instruct them how to operate lifts on numerous
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occasions. Being the most seasoned wheelchair user of public transportation sitting on
the DAC I.highly recommend a different solution and plea to purchase buses rather than
trolleys.They are inferior on many levels and are outright dangerous to use if operator
isn't trained properly(which they are not.)"
The DAC recognizes the cost of the "Industry Standard" Low Floor Vehicles(LFV) is higher than the High-
Floor Bus (Trolley)vehicles. However,there are two main points to consider regarding that cost.
1. The City of Miami Beach is an international tourist destination. Do we really want to opt for the
cheaper, more maintenance prone, proven less-safe on the road vehicles over the "Industry
Standard" Federal Transit Authority(FTA) sponsored Low-Floor Vehicles(LFV)?
2. The City contracts the affected transit services with Limousines of South Florida (LSF)..LSF
expressed various concerns against the LFV citing none other than possible maintenance costs.
This despite that LFV have a proven track record as being better in maintenance and better in
traffic.
Therefore,the DAC asks and recommends that the City Commission please consider, reconsider or
simply choose the right path ahead for this progressive city.Choose the Low-Floor Vehicle (Preferably a
LFV Bus over Trolley)option for the Miami Beach "Trolley"Vehicle Option.
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*Agenda/October 14, 2015 Transportation/Amendment No.3 &Commission Memorandum,21 October
21, 2015
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