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Accessibility advocates press DFHV for more WAVs; MAC proposes incentives fund paid by non‑WAV surcharge
Summary
Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Council representative Kelly Mack urged DFHV to close loopholes, boost the number of active wheelchair‑accessible vehicles (WAVs), and create a WAV incentives fund financed by a surcharge on non‑WAV trips; DFHV described pilot incentives and recruitment challenges.
Accessibility advocates told the committee that Washington still lacks a reliable supply of wheelchair‑accessible vehicles and urged a dedicated funding mechanism to grow WAV capacity.
Kelly Mack, representing the Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Council and a power wheelchair user, recommended four steps: close regulatory loopholes to improve the number of active WAVs, establish a WAV incentives fund funded by a surcharge on non‑WAV trips originating in DC, pair incentives with participation and enforcement requirements (including centralized dispatch), and strengthen the complaint and enforcement system.
"Both cities were highlighted in a recent report by the National Council on Disability," Mack said, referencing examples and offering written testimony with more specifics. She told the committee that Montgomery County’s surcharge model and incentive fund served as a useful example, and raised concerns that ride‑hail companies offer inconsistent WAV service.
Director Rogers acknowledged the shortage and described DFHV’s wave pilots, transparency changes to how wave percentages are calculated, and financial supports (maintenance aid, dispatch fee coverage, recruitment bonuses). Rogers said growing WAV supply is difficult because drivers own vehicles, securement standards vary and smaller taxi companies lack centralized dispatch.
Rogers also said DFHV plans to spend more of the allocated wave pilot funds in the current phase (3.0) than in earlier pilots, and that a dedicated revenue source would make longer‑term incentives and centralized dispatch feasible.
