Amtrak held a hybrid public meeting on Wednesday, August 30, to discuss accessibility for riders with disabilities, focusing on their new long-distance trainsets. After the meeting, Amtrak accepted comments on their website only until September 8. Unfortunately, Amtrak did not robustly advertise the hearing or the opportunity to submit feedback on their main web pages or contact customers who had purchased tickets with disability accommodations in the past. As a result, very few people attended the hearing. 

Danica Gonzalves, PVA Advocacy Attorney, attended the public hearing in person. Ms. Gonzalves is also a co-chair of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force. On September 8, Ms. Gonzalves and fellow CCD Transportation Task Force co-chairs sent a letter with feedback to Amtrak. The letter emphasized how Amtrak failed to fully include passengers with disabilities in their public hearing. The CCD Transportation Task Force co-chairs urged Amtrak to hold a new, accessible public hearing that was widely advertised to riders with disabilities and reopen the comment period for feedback.