§38.95 Mobility aid accessibility.

(a)(1) General. All new commuter rail cars, other than level entry cars, covered by this subpart shall 

provide a level-change mechanism or boarding device (e.g., lift, ramp or bridge plate) complying with 

either paragraph (b) or (c) of this section; sufficient clearances to permit a wheelchair or mobility aid user 

to reach a seating location; and at least two wheelchair or mobility aid seating locations complying with 

paragraph (d) of this section.

(2) Exception. If level-entry boarding, portable or platform lifts, ramps or bridge plates meeting the 

applicable requirements of this section are provided on station platforms or other stops required to be 

accessible, or mini-high platforms complying with §38.93(d) are provided, the car is not required to be 

equipped with a car-borne device. The access systems or devices used at a station to which section 

37.42 applies must permit compliance with that section.

(b) Car Lift—(1) Design load. The design load of the lift shall be at least 600 pounds. Working parts, 

such as cables, pulleys, and shafts, which can be expected to wear, and upon which the lift depends for 

support of the load, shall have a safety factor of at least six, based on the ultimate strength of the 

material. Nonworking parts, such as platform, frame, and attachment hardware which would not be 

expected to wear, shall have a safety factor of at least three, based on the ultimate strength of the 

material.

(2) Controls—(i) Requirements. The controls shall be interlocked with the car brakes, propulsion 

system, or door, or shall provide other appropriate mechanisms or systems, to ensure that the car cannot 

be moved when the lift is not stowed and so the lift cannot be deployed unless the interlocks or systems 

are engaged. The lift shall deploy to all platform levels normally encountered in the operating 

environment. Where provided, each control for deploying, lowering, raising, and stowing the lift and 

lowering the roll-off barrier shall be of a monetary contact type requiring continuous manual pressure by 

the operator and shall not allow improper lift sequencing when the lift platform is occupied. The controls 

shall allow reversal of the lift operation sequence, such as raising or lowering a platform that is part way 

down, without allowing an occupied platform to fold or retract into the stowed position. 

(ii) Exception. Where physical or safety constraints prevent the deployment at some stops of a lift 

having its long dimension perpendicular to the car axis, the transportation entity may specify a lift which is 

designed to deploy with its long dimension parallel to the car axis and which pivots into or out of the car 

while occupied (i.e., “rotary lift”). The requirements of paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section prohibiting the lift 

from being stowed while occupied shall not apply to a lift design of this type if the stowed position is within 

the passenger compartment and the lift is intended to be stowed while occupied.

(iii) Exception. The brake or propulsion system interlock requirement does not apply to a platform 

mounted or portable lift provided that a mechanical, electrical or other system operates to ensure that 

cars do not move when the lift is in use.

(3) Emergency operation. The lift shall incorporate an emergency method of deploying, lowering to 

ground or platform level with a lift occupant, and raising and stowing the empty lift if the power to the lift 

fails. No emergency method, manual or otherwise, shall be capable of being operated in a manner that 

could be hazardous to the lift occupant or to the operator when operated according to manufacturer's 

instructions, and shall not permit the platform to be stowed or folded when occupied, unless the lift is a 

rotary lift intended to be stowed while occupied.

(4) Power or equipment failure. Platforms stowed in a vertical position, and deployed platforms when 

occupied, shall have provisions to prevent their deploying, falling, or folding any faster than 12 

inches/second or their dropping of an occupant in the event of a single failure of any load carrying 

component.
(5) Platform barriers. The lift platform shall be equipped with barriers to prevent any of the wheels of 

a wheelchair or mobility aid from rolling off the lift during its operation. A movable barrier or inherent 

design feature shall prevent a wheelchair or mobility aid from rolling off the edge closest to the car until 

the lift is in its fully raised position. Each side of the lift platform which, in its raised position, extends 

beyond the car shall have a barrier a minimum 11⁄2 inches high. Such barriers shall not interfere with 

maneuvering into or out of the car. The loading-edge barrier (outer barrier) which functions as a loading 

ramp when the lift is at ground or station platform level, shall be sufficient when raised or closed, or a 

supplementary system shall be provided, to prevent a power wheelchair or mobility aid from riding over or 

defeating it. The outer barrier of the lift shall automatically rise or close, or a supplementary system shall 

automatically engage, and remain raised, closed, or engaged at all times that the lift platform is more than 

3 inches above the station platform and the lift is occupied. Alternatively, a barrier or system may be 

raised, lowered, opened, closed, engaged or disengaged by the lift operator provided an interlock or 

inherent design feature prevents the lift from rising unless the barrier is raised or closed or the 

supplementary system is engaged.

(6) Platform surface. The lift platform surface shall be free of any protrusions over 1⁄4 inch high and 

shall be slip resistant. The lift platform shall have a minimum clear width of 281⁄2 inches at the platform, a 

minimum clear width of 30 inches measured from 2 inches above the lift platform surface to 30 inches 

above the surface, and a minimum clear length of 48 inches measured from 2 inches above the surface 

of the platform to 30 inches above the surface. (See Fig. 1)

(7) Platform gaps. Any openings between the lift platform surface and the raised barriers shall not 

exceed 5⁄8 inch wide. When the lift is at car floor height with the inner barrier down (if applicable) or 

retracted, gaps between the forward lift platform edge and car floor shall not exceed 1⁄2 inch horizontally 

and 5⁄8 inch vertically.

(8) Platform entrance ramp. The entrance ramp, or loading-edge barrier used as a ramp, shall not 

exceed a slope of 1:8, when measured on level ground, for a maximum rise of 3 inches, and the transition 

from station platform to ramp may be vertical without edge treatment up to 1⁄4 inch. Thresholds between 1⁄4

inch and 1⁄2 inch high shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2.

(9) Platform deflection. The lift platform (not including the entrance ramp) shall not deflect more than 

3 degrees (exclusive of vehicle roll) in any direction between its unloaded position and its position when 

loaded with 600 pounds applied through a 26 inch by 26 inch test pallet at the centroid of the lift platform.

(10) Platform movement. No part of the platform shall move at a rate exceeding 6 inches/second 

during lowering and lifting an occupant, and shall not exceed 12 inches/second during deploying or 

stowing. This requirement does not apply to the deployment or stowage cycles of lifts that are manually 

deployed or stowed. The maximum platform horizontal and vertical acceleration when occupied shall be 

0.3g.

(11) Boarding direction. The lift shall permit both inboard and outboard facing of wheelchairs and 

mobility aids.

(12) Use by standees. Lifts shall accommodate persons using walkers, crutches, canes or braces or 

who otherwise have difficulty using steps. The lift may be marked to indicate a preferred standing 

position.

(13) Handrails. Platforms on lifts shall be equipped with handrails, on two sides, which move in 

tandem with the lift which shall be graspable and provide support to standees throughout the entire lift 

operation. Handrails shall have a usable component at least 8 inches long with the lowest portion a 

minimum 30 inches above the platform and the highest portion a maximum 38 inches above the platform. 

The handrails shall be capable of withstanding a force of 100 pounds concentrated at any point on the 

handrail without permanent deformation of the rail or its supporting structure. The handrail shall have a 
cross-sectional diameter between 11

⁄4 inches and 11⁄2 inches or shall provide an equivalent grasping 

surface, and have eased edges with corner radii of not less than 1⁄8 inch. Handrails shall be placed to 

provide a minimum 11⁄2 inches knuckle clearance from the nearest adjacent surface. Handrails shall not 

interfere with wheelchair or mobility aid maneuverability when entering or leaving the car.

(c) Car ramp or bridge plate—(1) Design load. Ramps or bridge plates 30 inches or longer shall 

support a load of 600 pounds, placed at the centroid of the ramp or bridge plate distributed over an area 

of 26 inches by 26 inches, with a safety factor of at least 3 based on the ultimate strength of the material. 

Ramps or bridge plates shorter than 30 inches shall support a load of 300 pounds. 

(2) Ramp surface. The ramp or bridge plate surface shall be continuous and slip resistant, shall not 

have protrusions from the surface greater than 1⁄4 inch high, shall have a clear width of 30 inches and shall 

accommodate both four-wheel and three-wheel mobility aids. 

(3) Ramp threshold. The transition from station platform to the ramp or bridge plate and the 

transition from car floor to the ramp or bridge plate may be vertical without edge treatment up to 1⁄4 inch. 

Changes in level between 1⁄4 inch and 1⁄2 inch shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2. 

(4) Ramp barriers. Each side of the ramp or bridge plate shall have barriers at least 2 inches high to 

prevent mobility aid wheels from slipping off. 

(5) Slope. Ramps or bridge plates shall have the least slope practicable. If the height of the vehicle 

floor, under 50% passenger load, from which the ramp is deployed is 3 inches or less above the station 

platform a maximum slope of 1:4 is permitted; if the height of the vehicle floor, under 50% passenger 

load, from which the ramp is deployed is 6 inches or less, but more than 3 inches, above the station 

platform a maximum slope of 1:6 is permitted; if the height of the vehicle floor, under 50% passenger 

load, from which the ramp is deployed is 9 inches or less, but more than 6 inches, above the station 

platform a maximum slope of 1:8 is permitted; if the height of the vehicle floor, under 50% passenger 

load, from which the ramp is deployed is greater than 9 inches above the station platform a slope of 1:12 

shall be achieved. Folding or telescoping ramps are permitted provided they meet all structural 

requirements of this section. 

(6) Attachment—(i) Requirement. When in use for boarding or alighting, the ramp or bridge plate 

shall be attached to the vehicle, or otherwise prevented from moving such that it is not subject to 

displacement when loading or unloading a heavy power mobility aid and that any gaps between vehicle 

and ramp or bridge plate, and station platform and ramp or bridge plate, shall not exceed 5⁄8 inch. 

(ii) Exception. Ramps or bridge plates which are attached to, and deployed from, station platforms 

are permitted in lieu of car devices provided they meet the displacement requirements of paragraph 

(c)(6)(i) of this section. 

§38.109 Between-car barriers.

Where vehicles operate in a high-platform, level-boarding mode, and where between-car bellows 

are not provided, devices or systems shall be provided to prevent, deter or warn individuals from 

inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Appropriate devices include, but are not limited to, 

pantograph gates, chains, motion detectors or other suitable devices.