The diffusion of regulatory compliance : public transportation under the Americans with Disabilities Act /
This dissertation examines the diffusion of regulatory
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1997.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=736796281&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | This dissertation examines the diffusion of regulatory compliance in the context of public transportation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Time-of-compliance with ADA paratransit requirements by Metropolitan Transit Authorities (MTAs) has varied widely. The timing of regulatory compliance makes a difference in when a particular benefit or program becomes available. Given the multi-year implementation periods of some regulations, the impact of early compliance is significant. Time-of-compliance is examined using data from 182 MTAS, representing 30 states and eight of the ten Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regions. Regression analysis is used to identify two candidate models composed of level of service, organizational efficiency, character of service, and either organizational size or constituency size. Further explanation is provided by characterizing ADA as "radical" policy (meaning moral and beyond the normal pluralist compromise based process), and analyzing it as a problem in the distribution of benefits and costs set in an advocacy coalition framework. The synthesis of the three approaches (regression, distribution of benefits and costs, and advocacy coalition framework) produces a view of the time of ADA compliance by MTAs as essentially a rational risk minimization strategy which is confounded by the unique nature of the ADA as "radical" policy. An empirically derived ideal type of regulatory compliance is developed. Practical applications beyond ADA are suggested, as well as future research. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Urban and Regional Science". |
| Physical Description: | vii, 151 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 94-101. |