Signage Provisions from the ADA Rail Guidelines (36 CFR 1192)

Rapid Rail (Subpart C)

§1192.53 Doorways

(b) Signage. The International Symbol of Accessibility shall be displayed on the 

exterior of accessible vehicles operating on an accessible rapid rail system unless all 

vehicles are accessible and are not marked by the access symbol. 

§1192.55 Priority seating signs. 

(a) Each vehicle shall contain sign(s) which indicate that certain seats are priority 

seats for persons with disabilities, and that other passengers should make such seats 

available to those who wish to use them. 

(b) Characters on signs required by paragraph (a) of this section shall have a 

width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 

and 1:10, with a minimum character height (using an upper case "X") of 5/8 inch, with 

"wide" spacing (generally, the space between letters shall be 1/16 the height of upper 

case letters), and shall contrast with the background, either light-on-dark or 

dark-on-light. 

Light Rail (Subpart D)

§1192.73 Doorways. 

(b) Signage. The International Symbol of Accessibility shall be displayed on the 

exterior of each vehicle operating on an accessible light rail system unless all vehicles 

are accessible and are not marked by the access symbol. 

§1192.75 Priority seating signs. 

(a) Each vehicle shall contain sign(s) which indicate that certain seats are priority 

seats for persons with disabilities, and that other passengers should make such seats 

available to those who wish to use them. 

(b) Where designated wheelchair or mobility aid seating locations are provided, 

signs shall indicate the location and advise other passengers of the need to permit 

wheelchair and mobility aid users to occupy them. 

(c) Characters on signs required by paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section shall 

have a width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke width-to-height ratio 

between 1:5 and 1:10, with a minimum character height (using an upper case "X") of 5/8 

inch, with "wide" spacing (generally, the space between letters shall be 1/16 the height 

of upper case letters), and shall contrast with the background, either light-on-dark or 

dark-on-light. 

Commuter Rail (Subpart E)
§1192.93 Doorways. 

(e) Signage. The International Symbol of Accessibility shall be displayed on the 

exterior of all doors complying with this section unless all cars are accessible and are 

not marked by the access symbol. Appropriate signage shall also indicate which 

accessible doors are adjacent to an accessible restroom, if applicable. 

§1192.105 Priority seating signs. 

(a) Each car shall contain sign(s) which indicate that certain seats are priority 

seats for persons with disabilities and that other passengers should make such seats 

available to those who wish to use them. 

(b) Characters on signs required by paragraph (a) shall have a width-to- height 

ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10, with 

a minimum character height (using an upper case "X") of 5/8 inch, with "wide" spacing 

(generally, the space between letters shall be 1/16 the height of upper case letters), and 

shall contrast with the background either light-on-dark or dark-on-light.

Intercity (Subpart F)

§1192.113 Doorways. 

(e) Signage. The International Symbol of Accessibility shall be displayed on the 

exterior of all doors complying with this section unless all cars and doors are accessible 

and are not marked by the access symbol. Appropriate signage shall also indicate 

which accessible doors are adjacent to an accessible restroom, if applicable. 

Other Vehicles and Systems (Subpart H)

§1192.173 Automated guideway transit vehicles and systems.

(a) Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) vehicles and systems, sometimes called 

"people movers", operated in airports and other areas where AGT vehicles travel at 

slow speed, shall comply with the provisions of §§1192.53(a) through (c);, and 1192.55 

through 1192.61 for rapid rail vehicles and systems.

* * * * *

(d) Light rail and rapid rail AGT vehicles and systems shall comply with subparts 

D and C of this part, respectively.

§1192.175 High-speed rail cars, monorails and systems.

(a) All cars for high-speed rail systems, including but not limited to those using 

"maglev" or high speed steel-wheel-on-steel-rail technology, and monorail systems 

operating primarily on dedicated rail (i.e., not used by freight trains) or guideway, in 

which stations are constructed in accordance with subpart C of 49 CFR part 37, shall 

[comply with]... 1192.113(a) through (c); and (e) .... 

(b) All other high-speed rail cars shall comply with the similar provisions of 

subpart F of this part.