Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation Grant

It was recently announced that the 10-year partnership has been extended for another five years (2018-2023) through an additional $4.6 million grant from the U.S. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research

In the Fall of 2008, the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University and the IDeA Center at the University at Buffalo collaborated to obtain the RERC-APT. This cycle of the RERC-APT conducted research to address some timely and critical human factors issues in boarding vehicles and develop key accessible information technology resources for improving usability of transit systems for all riders while also facilitating management and maintenance. The RERC-APT was refunded in fall 2013 and brought experts in information technology, ergonomics research and universal design together to further advance the practice of accessible transportation. 

The IDeA has evaluated physical bus characteristics and the built environment to inform new vehicles, construction and rule making. Researchers will work with autonomous vehicle manufacturers to determine best practices around design for accessibility for these emerging transportation technologies. Industry partners in this project included Gillig Corporation, Tiramisu Transit, LLC, NFTA, and LINC-Design, LLC. 

$4.6 Million / 5-years (2018-2023)

U.S. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research

Co-directors:

Aaron Steinfeld, PhD., Carnegie Mellon University
Jordana L. Maisel, PhD., University at Buffalo

Senior Advisor:
Ed Steinfeld, ArchD

Support Teams:

School of Computer Science/Carnegie Mellon University:
John Zimmerman, MDes

IDeA Center/RERC-UD/University at Buffalo:
Victor L. Paquet, ScD
Brittany Perez, OTD, OTR/L
Heamchand Subryan, MArch/MFA
Jonathan White, MArch
Danise Levine, RA

Consultants:

Anthony Tomasic, PhD.