Report on the Role of Accessible Transportation in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Its mandate to guarantee equal opportunities in employment, public services, and government programs serves as a critical framework for advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By ensuring accessibility, the ADA directly supports the principles of inclusion and equity that are central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Accessibility, Economic Growth, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Inaccessible transportation presents a significant barrier to economic participation for a substantial portion of the population. This directly impacts the achievement of SDG 8, which promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• Population Impact: In 2022, an estimated 18.6 million people in the United States (6.1% of the population over five) experienced difficulties with travel due to a disability. In New York City, this figure rises to 13% of residents.
• Employment Barriers: For these individuals, a lack of accessible transit can make obtaining and maintaining employment impossible, hindering economic self-sufficiency and contributing to social isolation.
• Employment Statistics: While employment for Americans with a disability has shown a positive trend, reaching 22.7% in 2024, a significant gap remains, underscoring the need for continued progress in removing barriers like inaccessible transport.

Infrastructure Modernization and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The development of accessible public transportation is a core target of SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Target 11.2 specifically calls for providing access to safe, affordable, and accessible transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities. New York City’s transit system serves as a key case study in this effort.

1. Systemic Importance: The Metro North, Long Island Railroad (LIRR), and subway systems are vital conduits connecting millions of residents and commuters to education, employment, and social opportunities.
2. MTA Accessibility Initiative: The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has undertaken a significant initiative to modernize its infrastructure. To date, 30% of subway stations have been made ADA-compliant.
3. Future Commitment: The MTA has established a goal to make 95% of its subway stations accessible by the year 2055, demonstrating a long-term commitment to fulfilling the objectives of SDG 11.

Reducing Disparities through Transit and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The ADA’s implementation through infrastructure upgrades is a direct mechanism for achieving SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequality within and among countries. By ensuring that public systems are usable by all, cities can dismantle systemic barriers and promote greater equity.

• Transit and Mobility: Research from the Urban Institute confirms a negative correlation between distance from transit access and employment rates, a finding that is especially pronounced for individuals with limited mobility.
• Unlocking Opportunity: ADA-compliant transit is the key to unlocking access to housing, jobs, education, and commerce for the 13% of New Yorkers with a disability, as well as for other groups such as the elderly and families with strollers.
• Fostering Inclusion: By investing in accessibility, municipalities address the foundational inequalities that prevent full participation in society, creating a more equitable environment for all citizens.

Conclusion: A Continued Commitment to Inclusive Infrastructure

Over three decades since the passage of the ADA, significant progress has been made in removing barriers to mobility. However, the work is far from complete. Continued investment in ADA-compliant public transportation is essential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Achieving full accessibility in public transit is fundamental to building a metropolitan area where every individual, regardless of mobility, has unimpeded access to financial, educational, and social opportunities.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article directly links accessible transportation to employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It states that for millions of Americans with a disability who want to work, “transportation can serve as a serious obstacle” and that “Employment can be key to self-sufficiency and independence.” This highlights the goal of promoting inclusive economic growth and providing decent work for all, including persons with disabilities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article focuses on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a federal civil rights law that “prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities” and “guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else.” By discussing the removal of physical and social barriers, the article addresses the core theme of reducing inequalities and promoting the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The core of the article is about making urban public transportation systems in New York City inclusive and accessible. It discusses the importance of “wheelchair ramps or elevators in transit stations” and the MTA’s efforts to make subway stations accessible. This directly relates to the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, with a specific focus on providing access to transport systems for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. The article supports this by emphasizing how accessible transit is crucial for people with disabilities to secure and maintain employment, thereby promoting their participation in the workforce.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article explains that inaccessible transportation can be “isolating,” and that ADA compliance is the “key to unlocking access to opportunities of all kinds, be it housing, jobs, education, shopping and travel,” which directly aligns with promoting social and economic inclusion.
  • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. The article identifies the ADA as a highly consequential law that serves this exact purpose by prohibiting discrimination and mandating accessibility.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations… persons with disabilities and older persons. The entire article is an analysis of this target in action, detailing the importance and progress of making New York’s public transit system accessible for people with disabilities.
  • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces… in particular for… persons with disabilities. The article’s mention of modernizing “highly trafficked, century-old subway stations” with features like elevators and ramps refers to making these public spaces accessible to all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

  • Employment rate of persons with disabilities: The article explicitly provides data that can be used as an indicator for Target 8.5. It states that “22.7 percent of Americans with a disability were employed in 2024, a 1.2% increase from 2022, and 4.9% from 2012.” This directly measures employment within the specified group.

• For SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

  • Proportion of the population with a disability: To measure inclusion (Target 10.2), it is necessary to know the size of the group in question. The article provides this data, stating that “18.6 million people, or 6.1% of the American population above age of five,” have a travel-limiting disability, and that “13% of New York City residents” have a disability.
  • Existence of non-discriminatory laws and policies: The article’s entire focus on the “Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990” serves as a qualitative indicator for Target 10.3, demonstrating the implementation of legislation to ensure equal opportunity.

• For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

  • Proportion of public transport that is accessible: The article provides a direct indicator for Target 11.2. It mentions that the “MTA… has made 30% of subway stations accessible” and has a “goal of making 95 percent of subway stations accessible by 2055.” This is a quantifiable measure of progress in making transport systems accessible.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: libn.com