House commission weighs study to add bus stops near elder-care centers; AMA warns of ADA, cost and operational limits

The House Commission on Older Adults and Social Welfare considered Resolution Cámara 227 on adding bus stops near elder-care facilities in San Juan during a public hearing where the Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA) outlined technical, legal and budgetary constraints.

Alín Martínez Nieves, vice president for intermodal programming at AMA, told the commission the agency supports studying the proposal but urged caution: “Este servicio especializado garantiza el acceso equitativo a la transportación...”, she said, noting that many older adults already qualify for AMA’s Ya Mi Viaje paratransit service, which operates by reservation rather than fixed-route stops.

Martínez explained that federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Transit Administration requires new fixed stops to include a firm, stable boarding area connected to an accessible route. She cited Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) guidance and described a typical boarding area dimension discussed in testimony (about 8 feet by 5 feet), and added that many San Juan sidewalks and site conditions would require engineering work to meet those standards.

The AMA witness also described operational impacts: each additional stop increases “dwell” or "dual time"—the time a bus remains stopped to board and secure passengers and mobility devices—which can slow a route’s commercial speed. To maintain existing frequency, AMA would need more buses and drivers, producing significant unbudgeted operating and capital costs. Martinez summarized the agency’s position: any plan to add stops should be preceded by an engineering, operational and fiscal analysis.

Representatives pressed AMA on ownership and maintenance of passenger shelters (cobertizos). Martínez said many shelters were installed historically under private advertising contracts or municipal projects and that AMA may not currently hold those contracts, which helps explain why several shelters are in disrepair. She agreed to provide copies of any existing contracts and documentation the commission requested.

On inventory and coverage, Martínez said AMA identified roughly 130 elder-care centers in San Juan and about 35 AMA stops located close to such facilities; she offered to deliver the supporting documents to the commission for review. She also said AMA tracks which buses have functioning ramps (some are manual, some are electric) and follows a protocol to reassign vehicles promptly if a ramp is out of service; users may contact AMA’s citizen service office with complaints.

Cost estimates for shelters varied by design and site constraints; Martínez gave a preliminary range of about $2,000 to $10,000 or more per shelter depending on model and installation complexity. Commissioners asked whether legislative or federal funds could be used for shelter construction; Martínez said she would verify available funding sources with the pertinent office.

The commission requested that AMA provide inventories, any relevant contracts and documentation within five business days to inform the feasibility study. The hearing concluded with the chair saying the public hearing would adjourn at 10:00 a.m., and the commission anticipates reviewing the materials AMA will furnish before next steps on Resolution Cámara 227.