Public Transit Methods

Data for the Public Transit Disability Dashboard was abstracted from February through March of 2022. This dashboard assesses the top 26 public transit systems based on federal funding in fiscal year 2020 which were identified using the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) National Transit Database.

The Public Transit Scores page includes a summary of this project and key results. Public transit resources for people with disabilities and the source websites for these analyses are listed on the Public Transit Source Links page.

Data used for Public Transit Disability Dashboard was scored across six areas, based on key principles of universal design and accessibility:

  • Facility accessibility (22 points maximum): Total number of facility accessibility features (e.g., elevators, hearing loops) listed on each public transit system’s website. One point was assigned for each accessibility feature, and points were averaged across each transit mode (e.g., bus, heavy rail). Mode-specific averages were summed to create a facility accessibility score. Although transit facilities may not require all features scored to be accessible, absence of information as to why the feature is not needed serves as a barrier. In instances when a facility is accessible without a feature (e.g., elevator), describing the facilities and explaining why these features are not needed (e.g., no elevation change) is required as confirmation to riders with disabilities that the facility is accessible.
  • Vehicle accessibility (11 points maximum): The total number of vehicle accessibility features (e.g., audio announcements, securement devices) listed on each public transit system’s website. One point was assigned for each accessibility feature, points were averaged across each transit mode (e.g., bus, heavy rail). Mode-specific averages were summed to create a vehicle accessibility score.
  • Inclusive policies of public transit systems (12 points maximum): The public transit system’s solicitation of feedback from the public and number of modalities available for submitting feedback. One point was assigned for each participation opportunity (e.g., listing ADA coordinator, public participation opportunities) and then summed to create an inclusive policies score.
  • Rider accommodations (9 points maximum): The public transit system accommodation request system (e.g., modes to submit an accommodation, updates if the system was in working order). One point was assigned for each accessibility feature and then summed to create a rider accommodations score.
  • Paratransit service (6 points maximum): Paratransit service information listed on the public transit website. Points were assigned for the availability of information about eligibility criteria, hours of operation, and ride reservations and then summed to create a paratransit service score.
  • Virtual accessibility (2 points maximum): Automated accessibility assessment score and a high-level manual accessibility assessment score of the public transit website. These data were normalized to the WebAIM Million sample of one million homepages and categorized into tertiles to create a virtual accessibility score. The lowest tertile (values at or below 3.3) received 0 points, the middle tertile (values above 3.3 and at or below 6.7) received 1 point, and the highest tertile (values above 6.7) received 2 points.

The total public transit score was calculated as the sum of the sub-scores across all six areas outlined above. A total of 62 points was possible. All scores have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Once rounded, the scores were ranked from highest to lowest based on their rounded values. Higher scores indicate more accessible public transit websites and more disability-inclusive public transit information and processes.

Figure 2. Facility Accessibility of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 2 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit system Abbreviation Facility Score Rank Facility Score (22 pts max)
29 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 1 17
30 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 2 13
31 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 2 13
32 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 4 11
33 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 5 10
34 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 5 10
35 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System VTA 5 10
36 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority SDMTS 5 10
37 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 9 9
38 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 9 9
39 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 9 9
40 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority TriMet 9 9
41 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon LAMetro 9 9
42 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 9 9
43 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 15 8
44 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 15 8
45 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 15 8
46 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 18 7
47 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 18 7
48 Utah Transit Authority UTA 18 7
49 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 21 6
50 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 21 6
51 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 23 5
52 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 23 5
53 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 25 4
54 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 25 4

Figure 3. Vehicle Accessibility of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 3 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit System Abbreviation Vehicle Score Rank Vehicle Score (11 pts max)
1 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 1 8
2 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 1 8
3 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 1 8
4 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 4 7
5 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 4 7
6 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System SDMTS 4 7
7 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon TriMet 7 6
8 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 7 6
9 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 7 6
10 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 7 6
11 Utah Transit Authority UTA 7 6
12 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 12 5
13 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority VTA 12 5
14 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 12 5
15 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 15 4
16 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 15 4
17 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 17 3
18 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 17 3
19 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 17 3
20 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 17 3
21 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority LAMetro 17 3
22 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 22 2
23 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 22 2
24 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 22 2
25 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 25 1
26 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 25 1

Figure 4. Inclusive Policies of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 4 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit System Abbreviation Policy Score Rank Policy Score (12 pts max)
1 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 1 11
2 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 2 10
3 Utah Transit Authority UTA 2 10
4 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority LAMetro 2 10
5 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 2 10
6 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 6 9
7 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 6 9
8 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority VTA 8 8
9 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 8 8
10 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 8 8
11 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 8 8
12 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 8 8
13 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 8 8
14 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System SDMTS 8 8
15 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 8 8
16 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 8 8
17 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon TriMet 17 7
18 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 17 7
19 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 17 7
20 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 17 7
21 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 21 6
22 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 21 6
23 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 21 6
24 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 21 6
25 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 25 5
26 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 25 5

Figure 5. Rider Accommodations of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 5 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit System Abbreviation Accommodations Score Rank Accommodations Score (9 pts max)
1 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 1 8
2 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 2 7
3 Utah Transit Authority UTA 2 7
4 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 2 7
5 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 2 7
6 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 2 7
7 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System SDMTS 7 6
8 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 7 6
9 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 7 6
10 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 7 6
11 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 11 5
12 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 11 5
13 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority VTA 11 5
14 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 11 5
15 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 11 5
16 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 11 5
17 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 17 4
18 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority LAMetro 17 4
19 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon TriMet 17 4
20 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 17 4
21 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 17 4
22 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 17 4
23 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 23 3
24 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 23 3
25 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 23 3
26 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 26 1

Figure 6. Paratransit Services of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 6 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit System Abbreviation Paratransit Score Rank Paratransit Score (6 pts max)
1 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 1 6
2 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 1 6
3 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 1 6
4 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 1 6
5 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 1 6
6 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 1 6
7 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 1 6
8 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 1 6
9 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 1 6
10 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 1 6
11 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon TriMet 1 6
12 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System SDMTS 12 5
13 Utah Transit Authority UTA 12 5
14 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority VTA 12 5
15 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 12 5
16 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority LAMetro 12 5
17 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 12 5
18 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 18 4
19 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 18 4
20 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 18 4
21 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 21 3
22 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 21 3
23 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 23 2
24 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 24 0
25 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 24 0
26 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 24 0

Figure 7. Website Accessibility of Public Transit System Websites Scores, 2022

Download Table 7 Raw Data:  Excel CSV PDF

wdt_ID Public Transit System Abbreviation Website Score Rank Website Score (2 pts max)
1 Valley Metro Rail, Inc. ValleyMetro 1 2
2 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority LAMetro 1 2
3 Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority SoundTransit 1 2
4 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA 1 2
5 Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority VTA 1 2
6 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) MUNI 1 2
7 New Jersey Transit Corporation NJTransit 1 2
8 MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company NYMTA 1 2
9 Denver Regional Transportation District RTD 1 2
10 Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon TriMet 1 2
11 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District BART 1 2
12 Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation METRA 1 2
13 Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Caltrain 1 2
14 Transportation & Public Work of Miami-Dade Miami-Dade 1 2
15 Maryland Transit Administration MDMTA 1 2
16 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System SDMTS 1 2
17 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas TXMETRO 1 2
18 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA 1 2
19 King County Department of Metro Transit KingMETRO 1 2
20 Chicago Transit Authority CTA 1 2
21 Metro Transit MNMetroTransit 21 1
22 Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART 21 1
23 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority SEPTA 21 1
24 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MARTA 21 1
25 The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority RTA 21 1
26 Utah Transit Authority UTA 21 1

Limitations:

Transit website information does not capture lived experience.
These scores represent data collected from public transit websites, as this is the information available to potential users. However, there are likely additional barriers on public transit systems not captured by these data. For example, if an elevator is listed as available on a website we were unable to assess if it was in good, working condition. Information provided on public transit websites does not represent the true experience of people using the system. Nevertheless, websites are a primary source of information about public transit systems and are important for information access.

The information presented is limited in scope.
These data do not assess every aspect of disability inclusion, and a favorable score does not ensure an inclusive public transit experience. The information provided can be used to identify areas for improvement, track progress, and capture accessibility information shared with the public. Additional data is needed to understand the full picture of disability inclusion and accessibility for public transit users.

Not all public transit systems are included.
This project only evaluated 26 public transit systems in the United States. The 26 public transit systems were chosen because they received the most federal funding in 2020. Accepting funding from the federal government requires that equal access is available to people with disabilities.

Website links change over time.
Public transit websites and information included on these websites likely change over time. Websites that were scored previously may no longer be available if the website link has been changed.

Associated Manuscript

Twardzik, E., Schrack, J. A., Pollack Porter, K. M., Coleman, T., Washington, K., & Swenor, B. K. (2023). TRansit ACessibility Tool (TRACT): Developing a novel scoring system for public transportation system accessibility. MedRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.07.23286932

Citation

Citation for this data, figures, or graphs from this dashboard: The Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center Public Transit Disability Dashboard (https://disabilityhealth.jhu.edu/transitdashboard/).

Contact Information

If you have questions or need the data in an alternate accessible format, you can contact us at disabilityhealth@jhu.edu.