Transportation Secretary Mineta Promotes President Bush’s Executive Order on Transportation Coordination

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today said that the President’s Executive Order on transportation coordination will enhance seamless, comprehensive transportation services to individuals with disabilities, older adults and low-income families by improving the coordination of federally supported transportation services.

“Opportunity and self-reliance are fundamental American values that are essential to a growing American economy,” said Secretary Mineta. “The President’s order will help transportation service providers help people get to work, stay healthy and live independently”

Transportation is critical to full participation in a community, he said.  Currently, the federal government makes a substantial investment in providing transportation services for individuals with disabilities, older adults and low-income families through more than sixty programs administered by a number of agencies. “Unfortunately, in too many communities, these federally assisted programs are either fragmented or altogether unavailable.  In other instances, individuals who are transportation-disadvantaged are unaware of the services available to them or are unaware of the most cost-effective options,” Secretary Mineta said.

The President’s order addresses these challenges by establishing an Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility.  This team will work to enhance the availability of transportation services to target groups by eliminating duplication and overlapping federal programs and by improving the coordination of federally supported transportation services at all levels.

In addition, the executive order also advances the goals of the President’s New Freedom Initiative.  The New Freedom Initiative recognizes the vital role that access to transportation plays in promoting the full integration of persons with disabilities into all aspects of American life.

Besides the U.S. Department of Transportation, the council includes representatives from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, and the Social Security Administration.