NJ Transit To Fix 5 Stations In Violation Of Federal Disabilities Act

NEW JERSEY - New Jersey Transit is slated to make improvements at five rail stations following findings from the U.S. Attorney's Office of New Jersey that several rail stations are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities.

The five stations, located at Newark Penn, Princeton Junction, MetroPark, Trenton and New Brunswick, were found to not be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a statement announcing a settlement with the transit authority.

Sellinger noted a lack of access to restrooms and proper signage, as well as bad ramps, poor access to elevators and too-small parking spaces for those requiring wheelchair access as some of the issues plaguing the New Jersey Transit stations.

“For too long, people with disabilities have been deprived of equal access to intercity rail stations operated by NJ Transit,” Sellinger said. “In ways large and small, people with disabilities were denied full access to transportation services … Through this resolution, we are holding NJ Transit to its obligation to provide accessible transportation services to all. To their credit, NJ Transit has swiftly recognized these deficiencies and already begun to bring its intercity rail stations into compliance with the ADA.”

Under the settlement, all five stations must be modified to accommodate riders with disabilities, with improvements to include modifications to multiple platforms, waiting areas, parking lots and restrooms.

Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division at http://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement/complaint or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).