The MTA will open board meetings up to virtual, real-time comments beginning on October 20 in a major win for NYC disability advocates. Following the MTA’s return to in-person meetings in July, the agency has unsuccessfully ensured people with disabilities have equal opportunities to comment on transit service. For a brief period, virtual comment has been allowed on the condition of being pre-submitted. The MTA’s decision to allow live virtual testimony (in addition to expanding the time allotted for public comments) ensures New Yorkers with disabilities have the chance to advocate for services that affect their day-to-day lives.

NYLPI’s Access-a-Ride Campaign Coordinator and Organizer Eman Rimawi commented:

“I get it, the MTA has a huge amount of issues going on, not just issues with accessibility and Access-A-Ride. But because it is a multi-dimensional company, they should be able to handle [real-time testimony].”

Read more at The City.