Getting around remains a challenge for many Californians with disabilities, particularly those who rely on non-foldable motorized wheelchairs. Transportation barriers can affect access to work, healthcare, and community activities.
To address this issue, Governor Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1532 into law, reauthorizing the Transportation Network Company (TNC) Access for All Program through January 1, 2032. The program aims to ensure ongoing investment in on-demand wheelchair-accessible transportation services throughout California.
The TNC Access for All Program was established to help people with disabilities access app-based ride services such as Lyft and Uber. While these platforms are widely used across the state, finding wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) remains difficult for many users. Since its launch in 2019, the program has worked to expand WAV availability statewide.
Funding for the initiative comes from a ten-cent fee added to every TNC trip originating in California. This approach supports the development of accessible transportation by encouraging companies like Lyft and Uber to invest in on-demand WAV services across various counties. Any funds not used by TNCs are sent to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which then distributes them to Local Access Fund Administrators (LAFAs). These agencies typically have a strong understanding of their communities’ transportation needs and collaborate with local organizations known as Access Providers to implement accessible ride programs. In areas without a LAFA, CPUC allocates funds through a Statewide Access Fund Administrator (SAFA).
This structure allows solutions tailored at the local level while maintaining support from a statewide system.
Since its inception, the program has generated nearly $51 million from the ten-cent fee. Of that amount, $35.7 million has been awarded to county-level agencies in 15 counties.
Supporters say that the TNC Access for All Program helps promote independence and inclusion while also strengthening local transportation systems by fostering collaboration between public agencies and private companies.
“The recent reauthorization through 2031 signals California’s long-term commitment to equitable mobility and accessible transportation for all.”
More information about how local agencies can apply to become Local Access Fund Administrators or how organizations can become Access Providers is available online at the TNC Access for All Program webpage.
“By working together, California is building a transportation system where everyone has access to the rides they need, when they need them.”
