**Scoping**

**T601 General** . All doors on rapid rail (e.g., subway) and high

- speed rail cars through which passengers board and alight shall comply with T601.1. All doors on light rail cars and commuter rail cars operating exclusively at high level platforms shall comply with T601.1. At least one door on each side of intercity rail cars , and commuter rails cars operating at mixed high and low platforms, through w hich passengers board and alight shall comply with T601.1 . All doors on AGT (people mover) cars operating at speeds of 20 mph or slower shall comply with T601.2. **T601.1 Boarding and Alighting. A**  ll new rail and fixed guideway vehicles shall be compatible with level boarding from a high platform. All steps shall incorporate a trap to cover the steps and bring the car floor level to the doorway. Doorways shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 80” (?) from the closed trap to the lintel. **T601.1.1 Gaps.** Wherever either or both of the conditions in (i) and (ii) are met, a car - borne ramp or bridgeplate complying with section T303 or a car - borne lift complying with section T302 shall be employed : (i) the horizontal gap between the boarding platform and th e vehicle floor exceeds 2 inches (ii) the vertical difference between the boarding platform height and the vehicle floor exceeds plus or minus 5/8 inches. **T601.1.2 People Movers.**  The horizontal gap between platform and car floor shall not exceed 25 mm (1 inch). The vertical difference between platform and car floor shall not exceed plus or minus 5/8 inch. **T601.2 Operation.** Where car doors open automatically at high

- level platforms, ramps and bridgeplates shall deploy automatically prior to door opening and stow automatically after doors close. Manually deployed ramps and bridgeplates shall be permitted where doors are opened by train personnel and where the horizontal gap exceeds 300 mm (12 inches).

**T303 Ramps and Bridgeplates T303.1 General.**  Ramps an d bridgeplates shall comply with T303. Ramps and bridgeplates shall be permitted to fold or telescope if all the requirements of T303 are met. **T303.2 Design Load.** The design load of ramps and bridgeplates 760 mm (30 inches) or more in length shall be 364 kg (

8 00 pounds) minimum. The design load of ramps and bridgeplates less than 760 mm (30 inches) in length shall be 1 82 kg ( 4 00 pounds) minimum. Ramps and bridgeplates shall have a design safety factor of at least 3, based on the ultimate strength of the material. **Advisory T303.2 Design Load.** The design load is the weight the ramp or bridgeplate is designed to support without damage or permanent deformation. Some deflection may occur under maximum load.**T303.3 Attachment.** When used for boarding and ali ghting, ramps and bridgeplates shall be firmly

attached to the vehicle and shall not be subject to displacement from the vehicle. **T303.4 Emergency Operation.** Power operated ramps and bridgeplates shall be capable of being operated manually and in a manner that is safe for the occupant and operator if the power fails. **T303.5 Surfaces.** Ramp and bridgeplate surfaces shall comply with T802, and shall be uninterrupted from edge to edge. **Advisory T303.5 Surfaces.** Ramp and bridgeplate surfaces must be uninterru pted from edge to edge to accommodate three

- wheel scooters. Expanded metal or perforated materials are permitted, as long as the openings comply with T802.3. **T303.6 Clear Width.** The ramp and bridgeplate clear width shall be 800 mm (3 2 inches) minimum. **Ad visory T303.6 Clear Width.**  A wider ramp or bridgeplate is recommended because it is more usable by passengers who use wheelchairs, and accommodates a broader range of passengers with disabilities. **T303.7 Edge Barriers.** The edges of ramps and bridgeplat es that are more than 75 mm (3 inches) above the boarding and alighting area level shall have barriers 51 mm (2 inches) high minimum. **T303.8 Slope.** Ramps and bridgeplates shall have slopes not steeper than 1:8 (12.5 percent) when deployed to station platf orms. measured at 50 percent passenger load

. **Advisory T303.8 Slope.** The Department of Transportation regulations at 49 CFR 37.165(f) require vehicle operators to assist passengers with disabilities with the use of boarding devices, even if the vehicle op erators must leave their seats. Providing ramps and bridgeplates with the least possible slope accommodates a broader range of passengers with disabilities and minimizes the need for assistance. **T303.9 Transitions.** Surface discontinuities at transitions from boarding and alighting areas to ramps and bridgeplates shall comply with T802.5. **T303.10 Visual Contrast.** The perimeter of the ramp and bridgeplate surface shall be outlined. The outline shall be 25 mm (1 inch) wide minimum and shall contrast visual ly with the rest of the ramp and bridgeplate surface either light

- on - dark or dark

- on - light. **T303.11 Gaps.** When deployed for boarding and alighting, gaps between the ramp or bridgeplate surface and vehicle floor shall not permit passage of a sphere more th an 16 mm (5/8 inch) in diameter. **T303.12 Stowage.** Where portable ramps or bridgeplates are permitted, a compartment, securement system, or other method shall be provided within the vehicle to stow the ramps and bridgeplates when not in use. When stowed i n passenger areas, portable ramps and bridgeplates shall not pose a hazard to passengers, and shall not interfere with the maneuvering of wheelchairs. **T303.13 Handrails.** Handrails complying with T804 shall be provided on ramps and bridgeplates where the horizontal gap between platform and car floor exceeds 300 mm (12 inches).**T302 Lifts**

**T302.1 General.** Lifts shall comply with T302. **T302.2 Design Load.** The lift design load shall be 364 kg ( 8 00 pounds

) minimum. Lo ad carrying components that are subject to wear shall have a design safety factor of at least six, based on the ultimate strength of the material. Other components that are not subject to wear shall have a design safety factor of at le ast three, based on the ultimate strength of the material. **T302.3 Controls.** Li ft controls shall comply with T302.3. **T302.3.1 Interlocks.** Li ft controls shall be interlocked with the vehicle brakes, transmission, propulsion sy stem, or door, or shall provid e other sy stems to prevent the vehicle from moving when the lift is not stowed. Li ft controls shall not be operable unless the interlocks are engaged. **T302.3.2 Sequence.** Li ft controls shall be of a momentary contact ty

pe requiring continuous manual press ure. Li ft controls shall permit the operator to change the operation sequence. Li ft controls shall not permit the lift platform to be folded, retracted, or stowed when occupied, unless the platform is designed to be occupied when stowed in the passenger area of the vehicle. **Advisory T302.3.2 Sequence.** A rotary lift is an example of a lift platform that is designed to be occupied when the platform is rotated into a stowed position in the passenger area of the vehicle. **T302.4 Manual Operation.** Li fts shall be capable of being operated manually if the power to the lift fails. The manual operation shall be safe for the occupant and operator when operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When operated manually , the lift platform shall deploy and lower to the boarding and alighting area or the roadway with an occupant; shall rise to the vehicle floor without an occupant; and shall stow. The lift platform shall not fold, retract, or stow when occupied, unless the platform is designed to be occupie d when stowed in the passenger area of the vehicle. Doors that must be opened to allow the lift to operate shall have interior and exterior manual releases. **T302.5 Platforms.** Lift platforms shall comply with T302.5. **T302.5.1 Surfaces.** Li ft platform surf aces shall comply

with T802. **T302.5.2 Size.** The lift platform clear width shall be 800 mm ( 32 inches ) minimum measured from the platform surface to 1015 mm (40 inches) minimum above the platform surface. The lift platform clear length shall be 1372 mm ( 54 inches ) minimum measured from the platform surface to 1015 mm (40 inches) above the platform surface. **T302.5.3 Edge Barriers.** Li ft platforms shall have edge barriers compl ying with Table T302.5.3 to prevent the wheels of wheelchairs from rolling off th e platforms. Openings between liftplatform surfaces and raised barriers shall not permit passage of a sphere 16 mm ( 5⁄8 inch) in

diameter. Edge barriers shall not interfere with the maneuvering of wheelchairs. **T302.5.4 Gaps.** When the lift platform is at the vehicle floor level and any edge barrier is lowered, the gap between the platform surface and the vehicle floor shall not permit passage of a sphere 16 mm ( 5⁄8 inch) in diameter. **T302.5.5 Threshold Ramps.** Threshold ramps from boarding and alighting area s to lift platforms and edge barriers used as threshold ramps shall have slopes not steeper than 1:8 (12.5 percent) for a rise of 75 mm (3 inches) maximum. The slope shall be measured when the lift platform is level. Surface discontinuities at transition s from boarding and alighting areas to threshold ramps shall comply with T802.5. **T302.5.6 Visual Contrast.** The perimeter of the lift platform surface shall be outlined. The outline shall be 25 mm (1 inch) wide minimum and shall contrast visually with the rest of the platform surface either light

- on - dark or dark

- on - light. **T302.5.7 Deflection.** When occupied, lift platforms shall be permitted to deflect 3 degrees maximum in any

direction with respect to the platform’s unloaded position, exclusive of vehicle roll or pitch. **T302.5.8 Movement.** Li ft platform movement shall comply with T302.5.8. **T302.5.8.1 Normal Operating Conditions.** When occupied, lift platforms shall move at a rate of 150 mm/second (6 inches/second) maximum, and the horizontal and vertical acceleration shall be 0.3g maximum under normal operating conditions. When folding, retracting, or stowing, lift platforms shall move at a rate of 306 mm/second (12 inches/second) maximum under normal operating conditions, unless the platform is folded and stowed manuall y. **T302.5.8.2 Power or Equipment Failure.** In the event of a power failure or single failure of any load carrying component, lift platforms that are occupied or are stowed in a vertical position shall move at rate of 306 mm/second (12 inches/second) maximum. **T302.5.9 Boarding Direction.** Li ft platforms shall permit passengers who use wheelchairs to board the platforms facing either toward or away from the vehicle. **T302.5.10 Standees.** Li ft platforms shall be usable by passengers who use walkers, crutches, canes, or braces or who otherwise have difficulty using steps. Lift platforms shall be permitted to be marked to indicate a preferred standing position. **T302.5.11 Handrails.** Lifts platforms shall have handrails compl ying with T804 on two si des of the platform that move in tandem with the platform to provide support for passengers in a standing position. Handrails shall have a usable gripping surface 205 mm (8 inches) long minimum. The gripping surface shall be 760 mm (30 inches) minimum and 965 mm (38 inches) maximum above the lift platform surface. Handrails shall not interfere with the maneuvering of wheelchairs.