Accessible Transportation Standard – Practical Implementation Questions

Hello colleagues,

We are reviewing implementation considerations under Manitoba’s Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation (ATSR) and would welcome peer input on a few operational questions that may be relevant across jurisdictions.

1. Boarding, deboarding, and accessibility equipment (ATSR s.19.1)

ATSR requires that, on request, operators:

• 19.1(a) take reasonable steps to assist a person disabled by a barrier with boarding or deboarding; and

• 19.1(b) deploy available accessibility equipment.

Discussion question:

Has anyone developed a practical way to estimate or account for schedule impacts associated with additional securement or assistance time (e.g., mobility aid securement, boarding assistance), at the route or system-wide level?

• If so, is this handled informally through recovery time, built into schedules, or tracked in another way?

• Are there examples where this data has informed service planning or operator guidance?

2. Detours, service disruptions, and alternative service options (ATSR ss.30–31)

ATSR:

• Section 30 requires advance communication of service changes and accessible alternative arrangements when disruptions are known in advance, and transfer to a destination where alternatives are not accessible.

• Section 31 addresses the provision of alternative accessible transportation when conventional service cannot be used due to a barrier, subject to practicability and the presence of paratransit service in the same jurisdiction.

Discussion question:

How are agencies operationalizing accessible alternatives during detours or planned disruptions?

• Are there established protocols for determining when an alternative is “accessible enough” and when a transfer or an alternate service is required?

• How is this communicated to customers in advance and at the point of service (operators, dispatch, customer information)?

• For systems with both conventional and paratransit, how is coordination handled to avoid service gaps?

We are particularly interested in practical examples, internal guidance, or lessons learned.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experience.