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Vehicle

Type

Features

Doorway 

width, 

exterior

Doorway width,

between cars

Route to Mobility Aid 

Seating Location, 

clear width Vestibule width

Clear 

Space 

Mobility 

Aid 

Seating 

Location 

(min in 

inches)

Overlap of 

clear space

Number 

of 

Mobility 

Aid 

Seating 

Location

spaces

Handrails, 

stanchions

diameter* 

(inches)

Knuckle 

clearance

(inches)

Fair 

box 

guard

Maneuverability 

near doors

Maneuverabili

ty at parking 

space

(minimum in 

inches)

Service animal 

space

Service 

animal 

quantity

1

Rapid Rail 

(Subways) 32” min 30” min(if 30” aisles) 32” min N/A 30 x 48 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A

Attention to 

ensure 

maximum

None None

2 RVAAC

32” min 

Note 1

(7/10)

32” except at cab ends 

of transit cars; 30”

Note 2 

(7/10)

Note 7 (new)

32” min

(7/10)

44” Clear across 

width of car

Note 5

(7/10)

32 x 54 /

32 x 59

Note 3

(7/10)

6” at 12” 

high

(7/10)

2

Note 4 

(7/10)

1.25 – 1.5”

(discuss)

1.5”

(discuss)

N/A

(discus

s)

Note 5 b,c

(discuss)

60” diameter 

circle Note 6

(new)

14Wx38Lx16H

(new)

2

(new)

3 Light Rail 32” min 30” min

(if 30” aisles) 32” min N/A 30 x 48

6” at 12” 

high

(discuss)

2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min Yes

Attention to 

ensure 

maximum

None None

4 RVAAC 32” min

(discuss)

32” min, (discuss)

Note 7 (new)

32” min

(discuss) N/A

32 x 54 /

32 x 59

Note 3

(discuss)

6” at 12” 

high

(discuss)

2

Note 4

(discuss)

1.25 – 1.5”

(discuss)

1.5”

(discuss)

Yes

(discus

s)

Note 5 b,c

(discuss)

60” diameter 

circle Note 6

(new)

14Wx38Lx16H

(new)

2

(new)

5 Commuter Rail 32” min 30” min

(if 30” aisles) 32” min 42" 30 x 48 6" at 9"H 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A None None

6 RVAAC 32” min

(discuss)

32” min, (discuss)

Note 7 (new) 32” min

(discuss)

44”

Note 5

(discuss)

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

Note 3

(discuss)

6” at 12” 

high

(discuss)

2

Note

(discuss)

1.25 – 1.5”

(discuss)

1.5”

(discuss)

N/A

(discus

s)

Note 5

(discuss)

60” diameter 

circle Note 6

(new)

14Wx38Lx16H

(new)

2

(new)

7 Intercity Rail Cars 32” min 32” min 32” min 42" min 30 x 48 6" at 9"H

1, no 

more

than 2

1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A

Sufficient 

turning and 

maneuvering 

space

None None

8 RVAAC 32” min

(discuss)

32” min, (discuss)

Note 7 (new)

44”

Note 5

(discuss)

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

Note 3

(discuss)

6” at 12” 

high

(discuss)

2

Note

(discuss)

1.25 – 1.5”

(discuss)

1.5”

(discuss)

N/A

(discus

s)

Note 5 

(discuss)

60” diameter 

circle Note 6

(new)

14Wx38Lx16H

(new)

2

(new)

9

PRIAA Single 

Level

(intercity)

32” min 32” min 32” min 44” min 32 x 59 6" at 9"H 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A 32 x 59 14Wx38Lx16H 2

1

0

PRIAA Bi-Level

(intercity) 32” min 32” min 32” min 44” min 32 x 59 6" at 9"H 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A 32 x 59 14Wx38Lx16H

1

1

RVAAC 32” min

(discuss)

32” min, (discuss)

Note 7 (new)

44”

Note 5

(discuss)

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

(discuss)

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

(discuss)

2

Note

(discuss)

1.25 – 1.5”

(discuss)

1.5”

(discuss)

N/A

(discus

s)

Note 5 

(discuss)

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6 (new)

14Wx38Lx16H

(new)

2

(new)

*Current building guidelines require 11⁄4 -2 inches outside diameter for handrails.

Notes:
1. Discussion of how to achieve clear openings with two-leaf doors 

a. One leaf must be 32” (prohibitive for door system design)

b. Door leaves interlocked so that a functioning door always opens both leaves

c. Both leaves must have an emergency release feature in case one leaf is obstructed or damaged so that it cannot open

d. Communication method / device provided at the door area to alert the driver/operator to ensure passengers do not get stuck on the car because of inoperative doors. (Device location but 

complies with requirements for reachability of controls from a wheelchair.)

2. Cab ends of transit cars such as subways may have 30” clear openings if there is a legitimate issue for the operator having appropriate space and creating a wider path adversely impacts the 

operator’s safe field of vision. Subway and some other transit vehicles have vehicle width limitations that affect the available space for operators and end-of-car structure. 

3. 32” x 59” is required when the space is confined on 3 sides to insure adequate maneuvering space.

4. Some quantity of seats should be easily removable or convertible to temporarily accommodate groups of individuals using wheelchairs.

5. Vehicles with vestibules and those without have different entrance path needs due to the physical arrangement of the entrance area.

a. Vehicles that have defined walls that establish a “vestibule” separate from passenger occupied space should be 44” wide over the most restrictive protrusion where 90 degree or similar 

turns are required immediately upon entering the vehicle. If the vestibule is arranged to allow a free-flowing path into the passenger area or aisle leading to that area, then the most 

restrictive width of the vestibule near the door may be less than 44” but in no case can the unobstructed path be less than 32”. 

b. Vehicles that do not have vestibules or otherwise physically defined separation between entrance areas and passenger occupied areas must have a clear space across the vehicle free from 

panels or stanchions equal or greater than the open width of the side doors.

c. Stanchions provided adjacent to doors to aid boarding and alighting passengers whether in wheelchairs or ambulatory may be at the 32” minimum or the door width whichever is greater. 

Stanchions located elsewhere across the width of the car between the side doors must be at least the width of the door apart or 44” whichever is greater.

6. A 60” maneuvering circle must be provide at each Mobility Aid Seating Location to insure that the passenger can maneuver the wheelchair into the seating location. The circle may overlap the 

aisle, Mobility Aid Seating Location and other maneuvering locations. The purpose of the maneuvering circle is to ensure that a passenger can turn to face their desired direction of travel and exit 

the Mobility Aid Seating Location toward the door in which they entered the vehicle.

7. Overlap of clear path between cars. Safety devices for use by railroad crews are often located at the ends of cars and in some cases such as lever type hand brakes, have geometric dimensions and 

locations that are critical to safe operation particularly during emergencies. Once such device is the lever type hand-brake that has a maximum pivot height determined by other governing bodies. 

As a result:

a. Protrusions into the clear aisle /doorway between cars must be at least 34” above the floor of the vehicle and may protrude no more than 4”