ITEM 7. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

DECEMBER 27, 1976.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: This letter will supplement the information furnished by Secretary of the Interior Kleppe in response to your request for a report on the Department's major activities on aging during 1976.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended in 1972, provides a program which makes available significant recreation fee benefits for senior citizens. The basis of this program is the golden age passport, a free lifetime permit which is available to U.S. citizens and those domiciled in this country who are 62 years of age or older. This passport entitles the holder and his or her family to free entrance to all areas of the national park system where fees vary from 50¢ per person to $3 per car. In addition, the passport also authorizes 50 percent discounts on recreation use fees, such as camping fees, in a wide variety of Federal recreation areas. Nearly a million golden age passports have ben issued to date and this has become a very popular program with senior citizens. A description brochure is enclosed (attachment A*).

Accessibility to and use of national park facilities by elderly and physically handicapped visitors is provided in accordance with applicable provisions of Public Law 90-480, 82 Stat. 718 (Architectural Barriers Act), as amended. To the greatest extent possible, commensurate with their physical limitations. The handicapped and elderly are encouraged to enjoy the parks, using the sa ne facilities as the nonhandicapped visitor. It is the National Park Service's nol cv that park design will facilitate this goal. Special interpretive facilities and programs for those with limited vision and mobility are encouraged where good potential for participation is indicated.

In 1971, the Service issued a "National Park Guide for the Handicapped,” and is currently updating the guide. This booklet provides brief descriptions of what the elderly and handicapped may expect in the way of facilities and limitations in the National Park System. An enjoyable experience may be planned by using the guide. (See attachment B.*)

As in previous years, the Department will participate in the program conducted by Retirement Advisors of New York. A contract renewal is pending. Under this program a series of informational booklets is distributed to employees who are within 5 years of optional retirement, and a postretirement newsletter is distributed to all retirees.

Personnel offices in the major bureaus of the Department also offer preretirement counseling on an individual basis upon request. Several of the bureaus conduct preretirement seminars for employees which are generally well attended. The Secretary has designated a departmental liaison to the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals which will take place in May 1977. While the emphasis of the conference is on the handicapped, this term is applicable to the infirm elderly. We anticipate that, as a result of the conference, there may be some followup activity in several bureaus and offices of the Department which have responsibility for human resources programs.

We appreciate the efforts of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and hope that the above information will be useful to you.

Sincerely yours,

ALBERT C. ZAPANTA,

Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

DECEMBER 23, 1976.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: In reply to your request of November 9 for information concerning programs on aging, the following statements are provided pertaining to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' programs:

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' program of social services undertakes to provide necessary assistance and social services on reservations when such assistance and social services are not available through State or local public welfare agencies. The Bureau administers such programs on every major Indian reservation.

*Retained in committee files.

Indians on reservations are eligible for benefits under the Social Security Act on the same basis as non-Indians. Persons eligible for these programs are not eligible for BIA financial assistance. An exception is made for elderly Indians on reservations who are eligible for SSI benefits but whose cost of care in a nursing home or other nonmedical facility exceeds the amount of the SSI payment. In these instances, BIA financial assistance is provided as needed and an application for SSI benefits is not required as BIA assistance, unlike that of the States, is considered income under SSI legislation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs also provides technical assistance and support to the tribes and to Indian organizations. It provided certain support services for the first National Indian Conference on Aging, in Phoenix, Ariz., June 15-17, 1976, where the National Indian Council on Aging was established. Certain support services are being continued for the council.

I have also asked other departmental organizations, such as the National Park Service, to provide you information on their programs. This supplementary information will be provided to you in the near future.

Sincerely,

W. W. LYONS, Deputy Undersecretary.

ITEM 8. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

DECEMBER 27, 1976.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your letter of November 9, 1976, I am pleased to send to you the enclosed report which summarizes significant actions taken by this Department during the past year to improve transportation facilities and services for older Americans.

If we can assist you further, please let us know.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM T. COLEMAN, Jr., Secretary.

[Enclosure.]

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY

I. INTRODUCTION

The following is a summary of significant actions taken by the U.S. Department of Transportation during 1976 to improve transportation for the elderly,1 together with ongoing programs and projected initiatives, on their behalf. The information included in the report was furnished by the following elements of the Department: Office of the Secretary, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

II. REGULATIONS

On April 30, 1976, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration issued regulations dealing with transportation for the elderly and handicapped. The regulations include design standards for mass transportation facilities and equipment, and a requirement that each annual program include projects for elderly and handicapped persons. The latter requirement is supplemented by advisory guidance giving specific examples of satisfactory levels of efforts in serving wheelchair users and semiambulatory persons.

The regulations were amended in October 1976 in order to fill in some gaps in the bus area. Attached to this report is a copy of both the advisory information and the amendment.2

Also, on April 30, 1976, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued joint advisory information on urban transportation planning for elderly and handi

1 Many of the activities highlighted in this report are directed toward the handicapped; however more than one-third of the elderly are handicapped and they also benefit from these activities. 2 Retained in committee files.

capped persons (appendix to 23 CFR Part 450, Subpart A). The purpose of this supplementary information is to provide additional guidance on the requirement that the urban transportation planning process include special efforts in the planning and design of mass transportation facilities and services so that the availability of mass transportation which elderly and handicapped persons can effectively utilize will be assured.

III. POLICIES

Based on advanced-design bus specifications which have been developed, the Urban Mass Transportation Administrator announced on July 27, 1976, that transit buses advertised for bid after February 15, 1977, must have an effective floor height of 24 inches. The mandated height is approximately 10 inches less than the floor height of current transit buses. Also after February 15, buses to be purchased must offer a wheelchair entry option and must have steps of no more than 8 inches in vertical rise. Following the July policy announcement, the Office of Research and Development began development of a specification for an advanced-design bus that reflects the policy statement. A draft of the specification is currently being reviewed by the industry. UMTA states that a final specification is expected to be completed in December 1976.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been preparing a regulation relating to travel of handicapped persons on air carriers. The objective of this regulation is to improve service for the air transportation of handicapped persons to the maximum extent possible while providing a high level of safety for all passengers. FAA states that the regulation is expected to be issued in early 1977. As part of the regulation process, comments were requested from the public, especially those interested in air travel of handicapped persons, and over 1,500 comments were received and have been reviewed by the agency.

IV. RESEARCH

A. COMPLETED PROJECTS

1. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Systems Development and Technology (TST) supported: (a) State-of-the-Art Document and Workshop on Demand Responsive Transportation; and (b) an Analysis of Dual Mode Systems in an Urban Area (included an assessment of system application to the handicapped and elderly).

2. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supported the development of a supplemental driver manual to inform those over 55 years of age of the possible problems they may encounter and should anticipate in order to be safe drivers. The manual has been tested in Virginia and the test results indicate a significant increase in older drivers' knowledge and a retention of more information over a 6-month period than other groups tested.

B. ONGOING PROJECTS

1. In a study on the transportation problems of the handicapped supported by UMTA, the contractor will: (a) Conduct a national survey of transportation of handicapped persons in urban areas to determine their needs and problems on existing transport modes; (b) develop planning methodologies, cost-benefit models, demonstration plans, standards and guidelines, and a national program of transportation services for handicapped persons; and (c) investigate the one-half fare requirements of section 5 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended. UMTA states that the project is to be completed in the fall of 1977.

2. Identifying driver licensing and improvement requirements of older drivers will be accomplished through a recently awarded contract by NHTSA. The contractor will identify driving problems of the elderly and will develop techniques to overcome their safety problems.

3. Another research effort supported by NHTSA will identify vehicle design deficiencies that might lead to accidents by handicapped and elderly drivers. The initial contract will determine vehicle design deficiencies needing improvement through motor vehicle safety standards and the further research needed in this area.

4. An additional study supported by NHTSA will identify driver visual limitations of the elderly driving population and treatment requirements for correcting

the vision problem. This is an ongoing R. & D. activity that has identified visual performance limitations such as glare recovery, vision under nighttime lighting conditions, and ability to detect moving objects. The study is an attempt to determine what can be done to reduce the problem and its highway safety consequences.

5. Coordination of resources as a means of improving transportation services for the handicapped and elderly is the primary objective of a study supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs. The contractor for this project will examine barriers to the coordination of resources and will recommend ways to overcome these barriers.

6. "Determining the Future Mobility Needs of the Elderly: Development of a Methodology" is the subject of a study which is supported by the Office of University Research in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Systems Development and Technology.

7. The titles of other relevant studies supported by the Office of University Research are: (a) Mass Transit Development for Small Areas; A Case Study, Tompkins County, N.Y.; (b) A Study to Identify the Problems that Deaf People May Encounter with METRO and Dial-a-Bus in Metropolitan Washington; (c) New Perspectives on Urban Transportation Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Innovation; (d) A Study of the Problems of the Carless; (e) Rural Transportation Systems Feasibility Study; (f) Evaluating Rural Public Transportation Demonstrations; (g) Travel Needs and Solutions of Low and Middle Income Urban Residents: A Comparative Study; (h) The Mobility of People and Goods in the Urban Environment; and (i) Transportation to Fulfill Human Needs in the Rural/Urban Environment.

8. The FHWA Office of Research and Development, as part of a multiphased project, has contracted with the Georgia Institute of Technology to study the problems encountered by elderly and handicapped pedestrians. The study identified mobility problems associated with these groups and has proposed 14 highway related countermeasures designed to alleviate these problems in urban situations. At least 12 countermeasures will be tested in five cities throughout the country.

V. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

A. COMPLETED

1. The Transbus program involved the development and demonstration of prototype, 40-foot transit buses. The Transbus prototypes included a number of features that were provided to accommodate various disabilities commonly found in the ambulatory elderly and handicapped population. In an earlier year, the buses were evaluated in an extensive human factors test program that employed 35 senior citizens in Phoenix, Ariz., as test subjects. Final reports on the Human Factors Evaluation were published in May 1976. Key findings from these tests were that the low floor and the wide front door of the Transbus dramatically improved the speed and safety of boarding and alighting. Boarding time for a typical elderly passenger was cut almost in half, compared to boarding time on current buses.

Much of the information learned through the attention given to elderly and handicapped factors in the Transbus program was incorporated into the UMTA regulation, "Transportation for Elderly and Handicapped Persons," published April 30, 1976, and amended October 18, 1976.

2. A major objective of the development of prototypes of two low-pollution paratransit vehicles has been to improve accessibility features of vehicles now used as taxicabs, particularly for the elderly and handicapped. In order to provide wheelchair access, the two vehicles built have flat floors less than 12 inches above the street level, and a ramp that extends 60 inches.

The two vehicles were shown to the public along with four foreign-made taxicabs during the City Taxi Exhibition of the Museum of Modern Art in New York from June 16 to September 7, 1976. The response to this exhibition was very gratifying. Vehicles of this type could be used for providing door-to-door service for the elderly and handicapped who find it difficult or impossible to use regular mass transit.

B. ONGOING

1. "Wheelchair Access in Current Production Bus" is the subject of a project to determine whether it is feasible to achieve an acceptable wheelchair lift in one manufacturer's current bus design.

2. In a project entitled "Study of Future Paratransit Requirements," the contractor investigated requirements for future paratransit vehicles and services. Reports from this study are expected by late December 1976. The study is an attempt to define what assistance UMTA can provide to obtain meaningful improvements in services and vehicles during the period 1980 to 1995. The contractor is to give special consideration to transportation services for elderly and handicapped travelers, including wheelchair users. The needs and services will be based on projections of the socio-economic environment of U.S. cities from 1980 to 1995 and the anticipated demand levels of these services.

3. The objective of a project entitled "Small Bus Requirements, Concepts, and Specification" is the development of a general and performance specification for an advanced, small urban transit vehicle. That specification should be completed in late 1976. One aim of this project has been to determine what characteristics are necessary for a small bus to have to meet the needs of the elderly and handicapped. The contractors looked at the problem areas for the elderly and handicapped in boarding, alighting from, and maneuvering in small buses. One of the design conclusions of the contractors is that seat heights for elderly and handicapped passengers should be an inch or two higher than they are for the able-bodied, since restricted mobility and loss of strength for rising make low seats undesirable for many. Another finding is that the most critical part of entry and exit is the exiting. Going down steps is more difficult, and, therefore, takes more time than going up.

4. The advanced concept train (ACT-1) program is intended to advance the state-of-the-art of rail rapid transit car design and construction and obtain lower life-cycle-costs per vehicle. The program has three major categories for improvement: (a) passenger comfort and appearance; (b) economics and operating efficiency; and (c) environmental impact. Under passenger comfort and appearance specific attention has been paid to improve facilities for elderly and handicapped. These improved facilities include a reserved section in the rear of the car, a seat designed to be more comfortable for elderly passengers, wheelchair space, a place on the chair for holding crutches and canes, and an increased number of hand grips.

5. For a period of approximately 5 months, beginning in the spring of 1977, the UMTA Office of Research and Development will undertake an assessment of the inclined elevator and its use in Stockholm to: (a) determine whether the inclined elevator would be useful for helping the elderly and handicapped change floor levels in transit stations in the United States; and (b) obtain factual engineering, architectural, operational, and user data about this equipment, which—if the inclined elevator is deemed worthwhile can be used in planning and designing future stations and future transit systems in the United States. Inclined elevators travel at the same angle as the escalator and alongside the escalator. There are 36 inclined elevators in Stockholm each of which has a capacity of 12 people.

6. The UMTA Office of Research and Development anticipates that bids soon to be requested will call for conceptual designs for modifying existing escalators in existing transit stations, to determine if it is within the state of the art to make escalators more accessible to the elderly and handicapped.

7. Beginning in late 1976, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) undertook a project for UMTA to investigate wheelchair safety. Caltrans will be studying lifts and ramps that are on the market today and will be developing safety guidelines for this boarding equipment for wheelchair passengers. They will also be testing the protection given by wheelchair securement systems on the market today to learn how well the restraint systems hold the wheelchair in place under conditions of rapid deceleration, and what the behavior of the wheelchair is when secured by these restraints. The tests will use anthropomorphic dummies placed in wheelchairs mounted on sleds. These systems will be tested with the wheelchair facing forward and facing into the vehicle. Depending on the findings, they may also be tested with the wheelchair facing backward. Caltrans will ask wheelchair users to evaluate the tiedowns for comfort, ease of use, time required for connecting, etc.

8. UMTA has awarded a contract for the development of a prototype elevator device for standard light-rail vehicles (SLRV). The lift is to be designed for use by persons in wheelchairs and by other elderly and handicapped travelers as well. Design, fabrication, and testing are expected to take about a year. In the design concept, the three-sided lift pivots from outside the car, up the vehicle steps and around so that the user ends up facing into the center of the vehicle.