Report on Accessible Transportation and Sustainable Development in Michigan

Introduction: Addressing Transportation Barriers for Disability Inclusion

A significant initiative has been launched by Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) to address critical transportation barriers faced by the state’s disability community. The project, an interactive online transportation guide, was developed in response to challenges observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where lack of accessible transport hindered access to vaccination clinics. This report analyzes the initiative’s direct contributions to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing mobility, equity, and access to essential services for people with disabilities.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The DRM transportation guide is a practical implementation of key SDG principles, directly addressing targets related to health, inequality, and sustainable communities.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The project’s origin is rooted in improving health outcomes. By facilitating transportation to vaccination sites, the guide directly supports Target 3.8 concerning universal health coverage, including access to essential health-care services. The continued lack of transport remains a barrier to routine medical care and health equity for this population.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The initiative is a core effort to reduce inequalities faced by people with disabilities, who constitute one in five Michigan residents. It directly addresses Target 10.2, which calls for the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of disability. By providing crucial information, the guide empowers individuals and promotes their equal participation in society.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The guide is fundamentally aligned with Target 11.2, which advocates for safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of persons with disabilities. The project highlights systemic gaps in Michigan’s public transit and advocates for the coordinated, regional systems necessary for building inclusive and sustainable communities.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The report acknowledges that inaccessible transportation is a primary barrier to employment. By improving access to transit, the guide supports inclusive economic growth and the principles of Target 8.5, which aims for full and productive employment and decent work for all, including persons with disabilities.

Project Overview: The Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) Interactive Guide

The DRM guide emerged from a 14-month project led by Vaccine Advocate Kristen Milefchik. Initially conceived as a printed resource to help clients navigate transit for vaccine appointments, it evolved into a comprehensive digital platform. The guide’s primary function is to centralize fragmented information and simplify the process of finding accessible transportation.

Key Features of the Guide:

1. An interactive search function allowing users to find transportation options by city, zip code, or keyword.
2. A statewide transportation map and a detailed list of transit providers.
3. Dedicated sections informing travelers of their legal rights under federal and state law.
4. Links to community resources to provide holistic support.

Analysis of Michigan’s Transportation System Challenges

The development of the guide has brought systemic issues within Michigan’s public transportation infrastructure into sharp focus, revealing significant obstacles to achieving SDG targets.

• Underinvestment: Michigan’s per capita spending on transit lags behind most other metro regions in the nation, leading to reliability and service-level issues.
• System Fragmentation: A lack of regional coordination creates significant gaps in service, described as a “swiss cheese” system. This makes inter-county travel difficult and inefficient, isolating communities and individuals.
• Accessibility Gaps: While public transit is mandated to be accessible, private sector options like rideshare services are not federally required to provide accessible vehicles. Furthermore, information about available accessible features, such as lift- or ramp-equipped vehicles, is often difficult to find.
• Equity Issues: These systemic failures disproportionately impact individuals with disabilities, limiting their access to healthcare, employment, and community engagement, thereby perpetuating inequality in direct opposition to SDG 10.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Recommendations

Multiple stakeholders have affirmed the guide’s importance as a tool for advocacy and empowerment.

• Disability Rights Michigan (DRM): Mark McWilliams, Director of Advocacy, stated that the guide is part of a necessary systemic change to advance health equity. Project lead Kristen Milefchik, who uses a power wheelchair, emphasized the empowering feeling of independence that accessible transit provides.
• Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan: Renee Roederer, Senior Director, highlighted the guide’s vital importance for individuals with epilepsy who may be unable to drive. She noted the guide will help identify persistent transportation gaps, enabling targeted advocacy for greater transit equity.
• Transportation Riders United (TRU): Executive Director Megan Owens confirmed that the guide addresses a significant information gap and is a much-needed resource being shared throughout transit advocacy networks.

Conclusion: Advancing Toward Inclusive and Sustainable Transit

The Disability Rights Michigan transportation guide is a significant step toward creating a more equitable and accessible state. It serves not only as a practical tool for individuals but also as an advocacy instrument that highlights systemic deficiencies in public infrastructure. For Michigan to fully align with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 3, 10, and 11—continued investment, policy reform, and a commitment to building a coordinated, regional, and fully accessible public transportation system are imperative. This initiative provides a clear roadmap for identifying needs and fighting for the inclusive systems of the future.

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects transportation barriers to health outcomes. It highlights that for the disability community, “one of the biggest barriers to getting to a clinic for a vaccine was transportation.” This lack of access directly impacts the ability of individuals with disabilities to receive essential healthcare services like COVID-19 vaccinations, which is a core component of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The core theme of the article is the inequality faced by people with disabilities. The text explicitly frames the problem as an “issue of equity” and states that the goal of advocacy work is to “advance health equity for Michigan’s disability community.” By focusing on the specific barriers that prevent one segment of the population—people with disabilities—from accessing services like healthcare and employment, the article directly addresses the need to reduce inequalities and promote the social and economic inclusion of all individuals.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article extensively discusses the state of public transportation infrastructure within Michigan’s communities. It points out the need for a “more regional, connected and coordinated system” and notes that Michigan “lags behind other states when it comes to public transportation.” The creation of the interactive guide and the advocacy for better transit funding are efforts to make community transport systems more inclusive, safe, and accessible, particularly for vulnerable populations like those with disabilities.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article establishes a clear link between transportation and economic opportunity. It notes that individuals with disabilities “often face barriers that result in lack of employment.” Kristen Milefchik’s personal story reinforces this, stating, “when I wanted to look for a job and start being more independent, there were very few options for me” due to transportation issues. This highlights how inaccessible transit systems hinder the ability of people with disabilities to achieve full and productive employment.

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

1. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

   This target is directly relevant as the article’s central catalyst was the inability of people with disabilities to access COVID-19 vaccines. The statement, “We discovered that one of the biggest barriers to getting to a clinic for a vaccine was transportation,” shows a clear failure in providing universal access to essential healthcare services for this community.

2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… disability…

   The article is a case study of this target in action. The work of Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) to create the transportation guide is an effort to empower people with disabilities. The article notes that lack of transportation leads to a “lack of employment and health care access,” which are forms of social and economic exclusion that this target aims to eliminate.

3. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… with special attention to the needs of… persons with disabilities…

   This is the most explicit target addressed. The entire article revolves around the lack of “accessible” transportation for people with disabilities. It discusses the need for “lift- or ramp-equipped vehicles,” the expansion of public transit services in Oakland County, and the need for a “regional, connected and coordinated system” to serve this specific population’s needs.

4. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all… including… persons with disabilities…

   The article connects the lack of accessible transportation directly to unemployment for people with disabilities. The quote, “Individuals with disabilities rely heavily on public transportation, yet often face barriers that result in lack of employment,” directly ties the transportation issue to the goal of achieving full employment for this group.

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

1. Proportion of the population with disabilities facing barriers to accessing healthcare.

   This is implied by the article’s premise. DRM’s work began after discovering that transportation was “one of the biggest barriers to getting to a clinic for a vaccine.” Measuring the reduction in the number of people who report transportation as a barrier to healthcare access would be a direct indicator of progress.

2. Availability of accessible public transport systems.

   The article implies this indicator by mentioning specific features like “lift- or ramp-equipped vehicles” and the expansion of transit services to cover areas that were previously “shut out from the service.” Tracking the number of accessible vehicles and the geographic coverage of transit services for people with disabilities would measure progress.

3. Government investment in public transit.

   The article explicitly mentions this as an indicator, stating that “Michigan’s per capita spending in transit in Detroit is less than state investments in 38 other metro regions nationwide.” An increase in per capita spending on public transit would be a clear, measurable indicator of progress toward improving the system.

4. Proportion of persons with disabilities who are employed.

   This is implied by the statement that transportation barriers “result in lack of employment.” While the article doesn’t provide statistics, it establishes a causal link. Therefore, tracking the employment rate of people with disabilities, especially in relation to improvements in transit, would serve as a relevant indicator.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Analysis

Source: flintside.com