### Summary **Minutes**
**– 2nd**  **Meeting (approved**  **Ap ril 10, 2014)** 

**US A ccess Board**  **Rail Vehicles A ccess A** **dvisory Committee**  **Januar y**  **9 -**  **10, 2014 Washington, DC** 
**Thursday , January** 

**9, 2014** Wi th a quorum present, o n behalf of the Access Board, Mr. Christopher Hart o pened the second meeting of the Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee at 10 a.m. in the Access Board’s conference room at 1331 F Street, N. W. , room 800, W ashington, DC

. Mr. Hart welcomed the committee members, alternates, and members of the public

. Committee members and others in attendance introduced themselves (see attachment A for attendance)

. The committee then approved ( certified as accurate) the November 2013 meeting summa ry minutes. The committee then reviewed the issues list. New issue “a ll announcements in American Sign Language as well as text” was added , and the last issue on the list “standards for websites and smart phones” was removed ( as the issue does not fall under the Access Board’s Americans with Disabilities Act jurisdiction). Throughout the remainder of the two

-day meeting some other issues were added, edited , or moved to appear under different headings (see attachment B for chan ges made). Next, t he five educational presentations listed below were made to the committee (copies of the presentation PowerPoints are available at the committee ’s electronic docket : www. regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=ATBCB

-2013

- 0006 )

. A discussion time followed each presentation. a) Federal Railroad Administration Presentation (Ms. Melissa Shurland)

– Summary of PRIIA 1 Next Generation Equipment Committee Accessibility Accommodations and Other Areas for Consideration b) Bombardier Transportation Presentat ion (Mr. André Gagné )

– Toilet Module Footprint c) International Centre for Accessible Transportation Presentation (Mr. Uwe Rutenberg )

– Integrated Solutions to Accessible Coach Car Elements d) Talgo Presentation (Mr. Joshua Coran )

– A Brief Description of the T hree Distinct “Bi

- Level” Passenger Car Designs Currently in Use on the US “General System” e) Wa shington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Presentation (Mr. Glenn Millis )

– 7000 Series Rail Car Accessibility Features

1 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee Summary Minutes, Contd.

January 2014 Page 2 of 11 A presentation from the Federal Railroad Administration , titled Rail 101, was rescheduled for the April 2014 meeting, to allow further preparation work. A lunch break occurred between the second and third presentations

. After the last presentation, the committee began a discussion on how to resolve the rail access issues identified in attachment B. Mr. Paul Beatty presented a n idea to the committee for consideration that involved setting up three subcommittees ( communications, circulat ion, and designated spaces )

. Toward the end of the day a time of public comment was allowed. Mr. Bob Reuter addressed the committee

. The committee then recessed for the day around 5:15 p.m.
**Friday , January** 

**10, 2014** The second day of the January meeting started around 9 :15 a.m. After further discussion on the subcommittee idea (but no action taken) , the committee decided to review the issues list . During the review, the committee classified the issue s as to whether an issue was communication related or spatial in nature , and what vehicle mode (e.g., light rail) it applied to. The se determinations were added to the issue headings in attachment B , and some issues were moved to fall under more appropriate head ing s
. After lunch, around 1:30 p.m. , the committee discussed whether conference calls could be scheduled before the April 2014 meeting on specific issues. The committee agreed to hold the following conference calls on fixed and variable signage and interior vertical circulation between car level s
. **Signage**

- February 6, 13, and 27, 2014 (1 pm to 3 pm, eastern time). The February 6 call would p rovide callers with an understanding of what the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) would require, if ADAAG was applied to signs on rail vehicles. Also, review the variable messaging signage requirements in International Code Council/American Standards Institute (ICC/ANSI) standard A1 17.1 , and review the signage requirements in the current ra il guidelines . Th is call wa s not s cheduled for discussing the problems in applying ADAAG or ICC/ANSI, but to acquaint callers with the provisions in these two documents as well as the current rail guideline signage provisions. The February 13 call was ta sked with evaluating whether ADAAG and ICC/ANSI signage provisions could be applied to rail vehicles , and if any modifications are necessary. The February 27 call would be a continuation of the February 13 call, if needed. **Interior Vertical Circulation**

- March 5, 20, 26, 2014 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m., east coast time). The three calls seek to answer the question

- when is an elevator/liftRail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee Summary Minutes, Contd.

January 2014 Page 3 of 11 needed to connect levels in a rail vehicle ? The agenda for the calls will be developed by the Access Board

. **Note:** Any re commendations developed from the six calls are not binding on the full committee and will be presented to the full committee for evaluation at the next committee meeting (April 10 and 11, 2014)

. The call

- in numbers and related material are to be posted on the Access Board’s rail advisory committee website (www.access - board.gov/rvaac ) prior to the calls

. At 2:30 p.m. a time of public comment was allowed , with Mr. Michael Chisena , Mr. Gary Talbot, Mr. Paul G rether , and Mr. John Day address ing the committee

. The n ext meeting will be held April 10 and 11, 2014 , in the Access Board’s conference room
. The first day of the meeting will start at 10 a.m. and run to 5 p.m. , and the second day will start at 9 a.m. and run to 3 p.m. The committee adjourned at 3 p.m.

**Note:** A Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) system was used in the meeting to provide an accommodation to persons with hearing loss and persons who are deaf . The CART output was streame d in real

-time and available to the public on the internet during the meeting . The unedited text of the CART output is available at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=ATBCB

-2013

- 0006 in the section titled “Supporting Documents” (may have to click “view all”) in four documents starting with the words “2nd Meeting

- Unedited CART Text“. These documents provide the details of th e two
-day meeting.**Attachment A**

**U.S. A ccess Board**  **Rail Vehicle s**  **Ac cess A** **dv isory** **Committee -**  **Meeting At** **tendance**

**January 9 and 10**  **, 201 4**  **Washington, DC**

**Members Present :**  1. Alstom Transportation

- Jon Holbrook 2. American Council of the Blind

- Terry Pacheco 3. (Amtrak) National Railroad Passenger Corporation

- Joseph Slaughter 4. Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living

- Billy Altom ( Committee Chair) 5. Bombardier Transportation

- André Gagné , ing. 6. California Department of Transportation, Division of Rail

- Stanton Hunter (day 1) and James Lucas (day 1 and 2) 7. C enter for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access

- Edward Steinfeld 8. Community Transportation Association of America

- Robert Carlson 9. Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

- Marilyn Golden 10. Federal Railroad Administration

- Linda Martin and Calvin Gibson 11. Hearing Access Program

- Janice Schacter Lintz (day 2) 12. Hearing Loss Association of America

– David Gayle 13. International Centre for Accessible Transportation

- Uwe Rutenberg 14. Metra & N ortheast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation

- Justin R. Vonashek 15. Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York

– Michael Wetherell (day 1) and Frank Maldari 16. National Association of the Deaf

– Debra Patkin (day 1) and Andrew Phillips ( day 2) 17. National Association of Railroad Passengers

- Ross Capon 18. National Council on Independent Living

- Cliff Perez (day 2) 19. National Disability Rights Network

- Dennis Cannon (day 1) and Kenneth Shiotani 20. New Jersey Transit

– Ed Hoff 21. Parsons Brinckerhoff

- Jackson Xue 22. RailPlan International

– Terry Soebee (day 1) 23. Ricon Corporation

- Stanton D. Saucier 24. South W est Transit Association

- Crystal Lyons 25. Talgo, Inc.

- Joshua Coran 26. United Spinal Association

- James W eisman **Members Ab** **sent :**  27. Maryland Transit AdministrationRVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment A**

January 2014 Page 5 of 11 **Ac cess Board**  **Present :**  Christopher S. Hart , Board M ember and l iaison to the advisory committee Melissa Anderson , Transportation Engineer Rose marie Bunales , Executive Secretary Paul Beatty , Accessibility Specialist and Designated Federal Officer to the Advisory Committee David M. Capozzi , Executive D irector Lisa Fairhall , Deputy General Counsel Marsha K. Mazz , Director, Office of Technical and Information Services (day 2) Aromie Noe , Regulatory Analysis (day 2) Jim Pecht, Accessibility Specialist **Other s Present**  **:** Pamela Boswell, American Public Transportation Association Michael Chisena, MPC Visionary Concepts John Day, Federal Transit Administration Thomas Fodor , U

. S. Department of Justice Sid Goldstein, Transit Access Report Paul Grether, S outh West Ohio Reg ional Transit Auth ority Harold W eisinger, Federal Railroad Administration Pierre Holloman, City of Alexandria, VA (day 2 ) Charles Joseph, American Public Transportation Association Monica Lu ndon , Amtrak Glenn Millis , Wa shington Metro politan Area Transit Authority Naomi Milton , U.S. Department of Justice David Nelson, Amtrak Bob Reuter, Access Systems Melissa Shurland, Federal Railroad Administration Gary Talbot, Amtrak Louis Woolner, Virginia Railway Express**Attachment B U.S. A** **ccess Board Rail Vehicles A** **ccess A dv**  **isory Committee**  **Meeting -**  **Issues List New Vehicles** 
**– For all Subparts (January**  **10, 2014) January**  **9 and 10, 2014**  **Washington, DC**

**General Considerations**  **Issues** 1. Consider the designs and recommendations resulting from work done by FRA under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) 2. Identify best practices and alternative designs used in other countries 3. Gain a better understanding of legal and structural constraints a. How do FRA regulations impact rail vehicle design b. How do various types of vehicles differ in terms of structural constraints 4. Population to be served by accessibility features a. Consider the needs of people using differing types of mobility device, seniors, and individuals who are obese b. Consider adjusting current clearance and space requirements to accommodate contemporary wheeled mobility device sizes 5. Consider applying existing accessibility standards (e.g., ADAAG) to features not specifically addressed in the current standards 6. Avoid redundant regulatory requirements (e.g., FRA and FTA). 7. How to provide incentives for in novative universal design practices . (from Other) **Communications (Communications,**  **appli e** **s to a**  **ll modes)** 1. Real

-time messages (audible or visible) a. Dual mode (audible and visible) messaging b. Examine what factors should be used to determine equivalency of audible and visible messages c. Explore tri

- mode communication d. Announcements and screens over doors, typical in Europe and Asia e. Variable message signs l egibility (e.g., font, case, style, and location) 2. Audible messages a. Clarity of announcements b. Assistive li stening i. Provide assistive listening (induction loops) throughout the train in bathrooms, meal cars, bedrooms and in bi

- level rail cars ii. Evaluate technical feasibility of induction loops on rail cars c. all announcements in American Sign Language as well as text 3. Fixed Signage a. Legibility of signs ( e.g., font, case, style, and location )RVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment B**

January 2014 Page 7 of 11 b. Scoping for certain types of signs ( e.g. , location, number, etc. ) i. Menu information accessible c. Wh en and how to provide non

-visual formats (e.g., tactile) d. Visibility and frequency of station name signs by persons seated on

- board in wheelchair space and those standing 4. New Technologies a. Examine the potential for providing messages on hand

- held devices such as smartphones

– tri

- mode communication b. Examine how to address onboard route mapping, trainvision, and other real

time communication systems 5. Emergency Notification a. Use of bed shakers and visible door knocks for people who are deaf or hard

of

- hearing b. Notification of persons with vision impairments c. Back

- up power to service e mergency notification devices d. Visual emergency alerts (flashing fire alarms and such) in all parts of the rail cars -- compartments, main area, restrooms, etc. 6. Lighting a. Lighting in circulation areas, restrooms, sleeping compartments, step wells, and in a ny other areas b. Task lighting and on

-demand passenger controls 7. Other communications issue a. How to address the information needs of riders with cognitive disabilities b. How to make messages accessible when they are exterior to the vehicle and are not station

- based c. How to provide access to information where tour

-type (docent) service is provided in inaccessible locations, e.g., on the upper level of a car without vertical access d. How to make stop request device in vestibules accessible e. Examine potential overlaps with FTA and FRA requirements, e.g., conductor and crew call button f. Use of detectable warnings at exit stairs i. Characteristics of detectable warnings in these locations g. How to identify which doors open on interior & exterior of cars when not all doors may open (from Boarding/Alighting) h. Audible and visible alerts prior to door closing (from Boarding/Alighting) i. Scoping for sleeping rooms for persons with communications needs (from Other)RVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment B**

January 2014 Page 8 of 11 **Lighting** (moved to Communications, since committee considered lighting a communication issue for all modes **)** 1. Lighting in circulation areas, restrooms, sleeping compartments, and in any other areas 2. Task lighting and on

-demand pass enger controls **Boarding/A lighting**  **(Spa tial**  **, appli**  **e s to**  **a ll modes)**  1. Use of devices on

-vehicle versus platform

- based boarding devices a. Wh en is permanent versus temporary installation appropriate b. Back

- up methods for mechanical lifts c. Impact on dwell time / service levels 2. Platforms a. How best to address the use of bus and light rail boarding devices on shared platforms b. Definition of level boarding (+/

- 5/8”) for light/heavy & intercity long trains at level platforms c. Evaluate different car types and implications for level boarding d. Commuter railroad shares ROW with freight 3. Wh eelchair lifts a. Possibly increase lifting capacity

– 800 lbs. minimum b. How best to address extreme super

-elevations c. Lift platform barrier height d. Se lf

-operable lifts 4. Ramps a. Rethink the ramp slope and railing requirements b. On

- board storage of ramps 5. Bridgeplates a. Barriers and crowding conditions i. Is space requirement similar to bus ramps/lifts? b. Examine how bridgeplates interact with detectable warnings on the platform c. Consider alternatives for near level boarding , e.g., low floor vehicles and bridge plates 6. Light rail a. Examine implications of 60

- 70% low floor vs 100% low floor vehicles 7. Gaps a. Examine the potential for gap filler devices on vehicles or platforms b. Examine European pop

-out steps 8. Doors and doorways a. Minimum width of doorway and each leaf b. Handrails to assist with boarding and alighting c. How to provide accessible entry to each boarding and alighting area i. Examine the potential for bi

- level access from the stationRVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment B**

January 2014 Page 9 of 11 d. How to identify which doors open on interior & exterior of cars when not all doors may open ( moved to communications ) e. Audible and visible alerts prior to door closing ( moved to communications ) 9. Other a. Full high

- platform level boarding should be the highest priority and most preferred method of boarding on all rail modes, whether light rail, rapid rail, intercity rail, and/or commuter rail. Wh en level boarding is not required or possible, boarding should be, as often as possible, by ramp or bridge

- plate as the primary 100% reliable and quick means for boarding, and clearly making mechanical lifts a back

- up alternative when possible. Wh ere mechanical lifts are needed, they should be car

- borne, not station

- based

. b. Full level boarding, all doors and all cars should be provided. Wh en full level boarding is not required , add ramps, bridge plates , etc. **Onboard Circulation (** **Spa tial**  **, appli**  **e s to**  **a ll modes)**  1. Features of the circulation path a. Characteristics of circulation paths, including walking surfaces, protruding objects, maneuvering clearances within vestibules, changes in level, thresholds, and other onboard circulation features b. Doors i. How best to make doors and flexible connections be tween cars accessible ii. Address operation of sliding doors, consider power doors and locks c. Aisle width in each type of car d. Stanchion and handhold criteria e. Consideration of an on

- board lift to access bi

- level cars, especially dome or viewing cars 2. Spaces within the train a. Consider hardware solutions to ensure the availability of accessible features when they are used to store luggage; as additional standing space, etc. b. Access to and within special cars, e.g., observation cars, dining cars, lounge cars c. Determine how best to address accessibility in various types of bi

- level cars

. 3. Escape and Egress a. Operation of emergency egress devices window controls b. Features to support use of emergency evacuation devices and storage for such devices Onboard evacuation ch airs, etc. 4. Other a. Connections to service animal relief areas (from Other)RVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment B**

January 2014 Page 10 of 11 **Wheelchair Space and Other Seating (** **Spatial, appli**  **e s to**  **a ll modes, except**  **baggage area for intercity )**  1. Scoping a. Number of wheelchair spaces according to vehicle type b. Examine the possibility of requiring readily removable seats to provide additional spaces for people using mobility devices c. Number and location of priority seating 2. Wh eelchair Space Design a. Maneuvering space to access wheelchair spaces b. Minimum size of wheelchair space i. Consider sizes in PRIIA, i.e., 32” X 59” ii. Consider whether minimum spaces should vary according to vehicle type c. Amenities and controls within wheelchair spaces equivalent to those provided people in inaccessible seating, e.g., tray tables, cell charging outlets, lighting, operable windows , movies, etc. d. Availability of windows adjacent to wheelchair spaces e. Space for baggage on inter- city 3. Specific features associated with wheelchair seating a. Knee and toe clearance under tables b. Define minimum table size 4. Consider the need for and characteristics of wheelchair securement devices 5. Other types of accessible seating a. Transfe r seats i. Need tray tables and ability to seat in the direction of travel b. Seating to accommodate service animals i. Minimum space needed, number, and location c. Larger and stronger seats for passengers who are larger and heavier

**Rest Rooms (** **Spatial, appli**  **e s t** **o a**  **ll modes with rest rooms )**  1. Consider alternate designs in existing accessibility standards and in use in other countries 2. Accommodate dependent and independent transfers 3. Examine PRIIA, CAL train, and Acela restroom designs vs. existing standards 4. Turning radius in toilet rooms (some think California does this well) 5. Consider sidewall alongside toilet
**Sleeping Compartments (** **Spatial ,**  **appli e** **s to Intercity** **)** 1. Scoping for sleeping rooms for persons with communications needs (moved to Communications) 2. Ensure that controls and amenities are accessible a. Controls within reachRVAAC Summary Minutes, Contd. **Attachment B**

January 2014 Page 11 of 11

i. Light controls reachable from the bed and seating ii. Outlet locations iii. Redundant accessible controls where controls are inaccessible b. Accessible solid surface tables with knee and toe space beneath c. Define minimum table size d. Visual doorbells/knockers so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can lock their doors and be alerted when someone needs to enter 3. Bed heights that permit transfer from a wheelchair 4. Minimum space requirements a. Wi th and witho ut bed deployed b. Turning space c. Egress and emergency operation of doors d. Space to access features, clear space , location, etc. 5. Evaluate bathroom design, including showers, when located within the compartment 6. Space for service animals 7. Access to other sleepin g car amenities outside of the sleeping compartment 8. Power doors and locks on sliding doors
**Dining (** **Spatial ,**  **appli e** **s to a**  **ll modes with dining )**  1. Accessible tables with knee and toe space 2. Accessible service counters 3. Accessible self

-service, e.g., vending machines, condiments, coffee, etc. 4. Consider recommendations for access to bi

- level dining

**Other** 1. Connections to service animal relief areas (moved to Onboard Circulation) 2. How best to address (crewless) automated rail systems 3. How to provide incentives for innovative universal design practices (moved to General) 4. Recognize that not all access concerns have an architectural solution 5. Need car design information, such as drawings, to assess feasibility of ideas **6.** Consider operational equivalencies **7.** Standards for websites and smart phones (deleted) **8.** Consideration of accessibility on bi

- level cars where level change is not possible **9.** Consideration of international solutions