It’s been nearly 35 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While airports have continued to keep pace with the changing requirements under this law, some airports have exceeded regulatory requirements in an effort to make their airport more accessible for all users through various customer service programs, facility design choices, and amenities. There’s increasing recognition that improving accessibility improves access for everybody, not just specific populations. 

The objective of this synthesis is to describe the practice of airports that enhance accessibility for passengers beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Information to be described in a concise report includes (but is not limited to):

• A literature review of the Americans with Disability Act, and state accessibility laws that would apply to airport passengers.
• Describe programs, facility enhancements, or amenities airports have implemented to enhance accessibility.
• Describe what motivates airports to initiate those efforts.
• Describe how airports successfully implement the programs/projects.
• Include information on the different stakeholder groups that airports consult with while developing their programs.
• Document if there are structured efforts to monitor or measure the programs effectiveness including what they are and what they have revealed about the effectiveness of the projects.

Information will be collected through literature review, a survey of airports if applicable, and interviews with selected airports for the development of case examples. Knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research to address those gaps will also be identified.

TRB Staff: Jordan Christensen, jchristensen@nas.edu

STATUS First panel meeting to select the contractor is in June 2024