GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 9, 2023) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan has reached five settlement agreements with the following cities to resolve findings of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
- The City of Bangor
- The City of Dowagiac
- The City of Holland
- The City of Kalamazoo
- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Under these agreements, the intercity rail stations in Bangor, Dowagiac, Holland, Kalamazoo, and Albion will be made accessible to individuals with disabilities. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office resolved ADA compliance issues at two other rail stations in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids through letters of resolution with the owners of those facilities.
Under the five settlement agreements, each city and MDOT committed to making their intercity rail stations accessible. Over the next three years, each will modify portions of its rail station and its access points, including parking lots, waiting areas, restrooms, and platforms. These agreements, along with the Justice Department’s 2020 settlement with Amtrak, are a part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing effort to achieve the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, through equal access to transportation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to enforcing federal civil rights laws, including the ADA, with the goal of protecting and upholding the civil rights of all people in our community. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office here or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at 616-808-2195. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).
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