Pilot Program Funds Microtransit Upgrades for Disabled Riders, Requires Continuous In-Vehicle Cameras

The “Improving Accessibility Through Microtransit Act” establishes a five-year pilot program that will award competitive federal grants, up to $3 million each, to local governments and organizations looking to upgrade their on-demand transportation services for individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments. Essentially, the Department of Transportation, through the Federal Transit Administration, is putting $20 million on the table to make those tech-enabled, dynamically routed shuttle services—often called microtransit—truly accessible.

The Accessibility Upgrade

This bill targets a major gap in modern transportation: the last mile for people who can't easily use standard fixed-route buses or trains. To qualify for a grant, applicants must demonstrate how the funds will increase accessibility, address service gaps, and even deliver economic benefits, like improving job access for riders. The money can be used for buying or leasing specialized vehicles, funding driver training, or acquiring the software needed to run the service. Critically, the bill defines a “covered vehicle” as a multi-passenger vehicle equipped with handicap accessible designs, including a ramp or hydraulic mechanism for wheelchair loading.

Addressing the Digital Divide

One of the smartest parts of this legislation is the focus on equity. Microtransit services often rely entirely on smartphones and credit cards, which can leave low-income individuals or those without access to banking services stranded. The Secretary of Transportation is specifically directed to prioritize applicants who ensure that low-income individuals, including those without smartphones or credit cards, can still access the transportation services. This means the service can’t just be an app; it needs a real-world, non-digital option for booking and payment, making sure the new technology doesn't inadvertently create a new barrier.

The Camera Requirement: Trading Privacy for Safety

There is one significant provision that warrants a closer look: the mandatory camera system. As a condition of receiving any grant funds, recipients must install and maintain a tamper-resistant interior camera system on every vehicle used in the microtransit service. This system must continuously record both video and audio of passengers and drivers while the vehicle is in service, and the recordings must be retained for at least 30 days.

For riders, this provision is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the cameras could significantly enhance safety and accountability, providing clear evidence in case of an accident or incident. On the other hand, continuous audio and video recording of private conversations and personal travel raises clear privacy questions, even though the bill states that the recordings cannot be released to the public and access is restricted to authorized employees and law enforcement upon a lawful request. The scope of that “lawful request” remains a bit murky, and it’s a necessary trade-off for the funding.

Who Gets the Money and What Happens Next

Eligible entities include state and local governments, Tribal organizations, and metropolitan planning organizations. They can partner with private companies to actually run the service. Given that the total funding authorized is $20 million and grants are capped at $3 million, this pilot program is designed to fund several small-to-medium-sized projects across the country over the five-year period. Applicants must also adhere to federal labor standards (specifically 49 U.S.C. 5333), which protect employees when federal transit funding is involved, ensuring that the push for new technology doesn't come at the expense of workers’ rights. This bill is a focused effort to leverage technology to solve a critical mobility problem, but it requires local governments to weigh the benefits of enhanced accessibility against the operational and privacy concerns of mandatory, continuous surveillance.