PROVIDENCE, RI — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights - Disability Rights Section), published as received.
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has undertaken steps voluntarily to address accessibility issues at state owned train stations in Kingston and Westerly to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Updates have been completed at the Kingston train station. Additional updates are required at the Westerly station, which are expected to be made by Amtrak.
In December 2016, at the request of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island opened an investigation of the Kingston and Westerly train stations to ensure that they are accessible, as required by the ADA.
The investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office determined that the Kingston station’s platform, recently renovated, is ADA compliant. However, the investigation determined that the train station was not ADA compliant, including violations at ticket counters and bathrooms. Updates have been completed by RIDOT and the train station is now ADA compliant.
An inspection of the Westerly train station by the United States Attorney’s Office determined that chairlifts for each tunnel used to obtain platform access were inoperable and one of the parking lots had no accessible parking. RIDOT has completed updates to the parking lot, which has been deemed ADA compliant. Amtrak is expected to make updates to make platform access from the tunnels ADA compliant.
Across the country, the Civil Rights Division sought assistance to ensure that intercity rail stations owned by state or local governmental entities are accessible, as required by the ADA. The request followed the Civil Rights Division’s conclusion that Amtrak is in violation of the ADA and issued a Letter of Findings to Amtrak.
The matter was handled in Rhode Island by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy R. Romero and investigator David Neill in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island is committed to investigating alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those interested in learning more about architectural barriers to access under the Americans with Disabilities Act may access www.ada.gov, visit the web site of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island at www.justice.gov/usao-ri/civil-rights-enforcement, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm.
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