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Bedford commission reviews MBTA settlement, flags paratransit tradeoffs for local riders
Summary
At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Town of Bedford Disability Commission reviewed the Daniels‑Feingold v. MBTA settlement and RTAG briefing, noting that Judge Patrick King found the MBTA in “substantial compliance,” and discussed how improvements to fixed‑route accessibility may affect riders who rely on The Ride paratransit service.
Sarah Blackman, chair of the Town of Bedford Disability Commission, told members on Jan. 13 that the Riders Transportation Access Group’s Dec. 10 briefing summarized the closure of Daniels‑Feingold et al. v. MBTA and the settlement’s long‑term effects on MBTA accessibility. Blackman said Judge Patrick King found the MBTA in “substantial compliance” with nearly all settlement requirements as of December 2025.
Blackman outlined changes the settlement required, including a new Department of System‑wide Accessibility, vehicle and station upgrades, improved emergency procedures and an independent monitor during implementation. She presented data showing station accessibility rose from near 0% in the mid‑1980s to about 60% by 2006, 83% by December 2025, and a projection to reach 93% by 2030.
Commissioners discussed what those systemwide improvements mean for riders who currently use MBTA The Ride, the door‑to‑door paratransit service. Blackman noted that The Ride “helps get every rider into the front door of their destination,” while also often taking indirect routes and multiple stops that can make trips considerably longer than fixed‑route service. Commission members who use The Ride reported mixed satisfaction.
The commission asked for Bedford‑specific rider satisfaction data and tasked Blackman with contacting The Ride and following up with the council on any local information she can obtain. The exchange underscored a continuing tension: improved fixed‑route accessibility may reduce some reliance on paratransit, but paratransit remains essential for riders who need door‑to‑door assistance or encounter barriers to using fixed routes.
The commission did not take a formal vote on regulatory matters at the meeting but agreed to track Next‑Generation Accessibility implementation and the RTAG transition from advisory to longer‑term oversight.
