Keep in mind this is an advocacy group. It's their mission to portray themselves as victims...
The earlier cost estimate is probably low but shows all the costs involved. It isn't as simple as unbolting a few seats. It also doesn't take into opportunity cost for lost revenue taking the car out of service, incremental fuel, or trackable fees for adding axles for deadhead moves.
Can't say what a bus company would do, but an airlines response to accommodate this group would have been similar - spread out your travel. Bloomington is served with regional jets, and there are physical limits in how many electric wheelchairs can be loaded into a cargo hold. Upgauging to a larger jet to keep the group intact would have been a charter, and far more than $25000.
The earlier cost estimate is probably low but shows all the costs involved. It isn't as simple as unbolting a few seats. It also doesn't take into opportunity cost for lost revenue taking the car out of service, incremental fuel, or trackable fees for adding axles for deadhead moves.
Can't say what a bus company would do, but an airlines response to accommodate this group would have been similar - spread out your travel. Bloomington is served with regional jets, and there are physical limits in how many electric wheelchairs can be loaded into a cargo hold. Upgauging to a larger jet to keep the group intact would have been a charter, and far more than $25000.
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Owner/operator of TrainSim.com (the internet's largest train simulation community)
Owner/operator of TrainSim.com (the internet's largest train simulation community)