Source: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/transportation/257-transportation-vehicles/rail-update/1636-boarding-and-alighting-june-25-2014
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 14:56:39+00:00

Document:
(4) Exception. Where it is not operationally or structurally practicable to meet the horizontal or vertical requirements of paragraphs (d)(1), (2) or (3) of this section, platform or vehicle devices complying with §38.83(b) or platform or vehicle mounted ramps or bridge plates complying with §38.83(c) shall be provided.
(2) Exception. If lifts, ramps or bridge plates meeting the requirements of this section are provided on station platforms or other stops, or mini-high platforms complying with §38.73(d) are provided, at stations or stops required to be accessible by 49 CFR part 37, the vehicle is not required to be equipped with a car-borne device. Where each new vehicle is compatible with a single platform-mounted access system or device, additional systems or devices are not required for each vehicle provided that the single device could be used to provide access to each new vehicle if passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids could not be accommodated on a single vehicle.
(c)(1) Commuter rail cars shall comply with §§38.93(d) and 38.109 of this part for level boarding unless structurally or operationally impracticable.
(2) Where level boarding is structurally or operationally impracticable, commuter rail cars shall comply §38.95 of this part.
(d) Coordination with boarding platform. - (1) Requirements. Cars operating in stations with high platforms, or mini-high platforms, shall be coordinated with the boarding platform design such that the horizontal gap between a car at rest and the platform shall be no greater than 3 inches and the height of the car floor shall be within plus or minus 5/8 inch of the platform height. Vertical alignment may be accomplished by car air suspension, platform lifts or other devices, or any combination.
(2) Exception. New vehicles operating in existing stations may have a floor height within plus or minus 1-1/2 inches of the platform height. At key stations, the horizontal gap between at least one accessible door of each such vehicle and the platform shall be no greater than 3 inches.
(3) Exception. Where platform set-backs do not allow the horizontal gap or vertical alignment specified in paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this section, car, platform or portable lifts complying with §38.95(b), or car or platform ramps or bridge plates, complying with §38.95(c), shall be provided.
(4) Exception. Retrofitted vehicles shall be coordinated with the platform in new and key stations such that the horizontal gap shall be no greater than 4 inches and the height of the vehicle floor, under 50% passenger load, shall be within plus or minus 2 inches of the platform height.
(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. (See Fig. 6) Appropriate signage shall also indicate which accessible doors are adjacent to an accessible restroom, if applicable.
(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 portable or platform lifts, ramps or bridge plates meeting the applicable requirements of this section are provided on station platforms or other stops, or mini-high platforms complying with §38.93(d) are provided, at stations or stops required to be accessible by 49 CFR part 37, the car is not required to be equipped with a car-borne device. Where each new car is compatible with a single platform-mounted access system or device, additional systems or devices are not required for each car provided that the single device could be used to provide access to each new car if passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids could not be accommodated on a single car.
(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 momentary 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.
(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.
(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 ½ inch horizontally and 5/8 inch vertically. Platforms on semi-automatic lifts may have a hand hold not exceeding 1-1/2 inches by 4-1/2 inches located between the edge barriers.
(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 1-1/2 inches knuckle clearance from the nearest adjacent surface. Handrails shall not interfere with wheelchair or mobility aid maneuverability when entering or leaving the car.
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.
(a) Clear width. (1) At least one doorway, on each side of the car from which passengers board, of each car required to be accessible by §38.111(a) and where the spaces required by §38.111(d) are located, and at least one adjacent doorway into coach passenger compartments shall have a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches.
(b) Passageway. Doorways required to be accessible by paragraph (a) of this section shall permit access by persons using mobility aids and shall have an unobstructed passageway at least 32 inches wide leading to an accessible sleeping compartment complying with §38.127 or seating locations complying with §38.125(d). In cars where such doorways require passage through a vestibule, such vestibule shall have a minimum width of 42 inches.
(3) Exception. Where platform set-backs do not allow the horizontal gap or vertical alignment specified in paragraph (d)(1) or (2), platform or portable lifts complying with §38.125(b), or car or platform bridge plates, complying with §38.125(c), may be provided.
(a)(1) General. All intercity rail cars, other than level entry cars, required to be accessible by §38.111(a) and (e) of 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 and sufficient clearances to permit a wheelchair or other mobility aid user to reach a seating location complying with paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) Exception. If portable or platform lifts, ramps or bridge plates meeting the applicable requirements of this section are provided on station platforms or other stops, or mini-high platforms complying with §38.113(d) are provided, at stations or stops required to be accessible by 49 CFR part 37, the car is not required to be equipped with a car-borne device.
§38.173 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 §§38.53(a) through (c);, and 38.55 through 38.61 for rapid rail vehicles and systems.
(b) Where the vehicle covered by paragraph (a) of this section will operate in an accessible station, the design of vehicles shall be coordinated with the boarding platform design such that the horizontal gap between a vehicle door at rest and the platform shall be no greater than 1 inch and the height of the vehicle floor shall be within plus or minus ½ inch of the platform height under all normal passenger load conditions. Vertical alignment may be accomplished by vehicle air suspension or other suitable means of meeting the requirement.
§38.175 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 be designed for high-platform, level boarding and shall comply with §38.111(a) for each type of car which is similar to intercity rail, §§38.111(d), 38.113(a) through (c); and (e), 38.115(a) and (b), 38.117(a) and (b), 38.121 through 38.123, 38.125(d), and 38.127 (if applicable). The design of cars shall be coordinated with the boarding platform design such that the horizontal gap between a car door at rest and the platform shall be no greater than 3 inches and the height of the car floor shall be within plus or minus 5/8 inch of the platform height under all normal passenger load conditions. Vertical alignment may be accomplished by car air suspension or other suitable means of meeting the requirement. All doorways shall have, when the door is open, at least 2 footcandles of illumination measured on the door threshold.
(b) All other high-speed rail cars shall comply with the similar provisions of subpart F of this part.
§38.179 Trams, similar vehicles and systems.
(a) New and used trams consisting of a tractor unit, with or without passenger accommodations, and one or more passenger trailer units, including but not limited to vehicles providing shuttle service to remote parking areas, between hotels and other public accommodations, and between and within amusement parks and other recreation areas, shall comply with this section. For purposes of determining applicability of 49 CFR 37.101, 37.103, or 37.105, the capacity of such a vehicle or "train" shall consist of the total combined seating capacity of all units, plus the driver, prior to any modification for accessibility.
(b) Each tractor unit which accommodates passengers and each trailer unit shall comply with §38.25 and 38.29. In addition, each such unit shall comply with §38.23(b) or (c); and shall provide at least one space for wheelchair or mobility aid users complying with §38.23(d) unless the complete operating unit consisting of tractor and one or more trailers can already accommodate at least two wheelchair or mobility aid users.
Clear floor space (CFS) dimensions are the basis for the minimum required size of spaces used by wheeled mobility device users (e.g. platform/wheelchair lifts) and for seating spaces/locations that are designated for wheeled mobility users. The clear floor space width also informs the minimum clearance width for successful passage through corridors, doorways and wheelchair ramps.
Occupied length: measured as the horizontal distance between the forward-most (anterior-most) point and the rear-most (posterior-most) point on the wheelchair or occupant.
Occupied width: measured as the horizontal distance between the side-most (lateral-most) points of the wheelchair or participant on the right and left sides.
Minimum dimensions for clear floor space should be considered as a starting point for accessible design. When determining the clear floor space for tasks that involve reaching or grasping to adjacent design elements other space needs and functional abilities of the user population must be considered, e.g. the position of the CFS with respect to the reach target or distance from the CFS to the target. To simplify decision making, however, decisions on the size of the CFS should be made first so that a basis for addressing the other issues can then be made within the context of the CFS.
In the U.S., federal accessibility guidelines prescribe a minimum floor area of 30 inches wide by 48 inches long for wheeled mobility access. Additional space of 6 inches in width and 12 in. in length is required when this space is located within an alcove (36 x 60).
The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA) at the University at Buffalo conducted an anthropometric study of 500 individuals who use wheeled mobility devices (WMD). The research included the collection of demographic information and WMD characteristics, and the measurement of structural and functional anthropometry. Data collection included 3 dimensional measurement of approximately 90 points located on the body and device. The methods used to collect the information have been reported elsewhere (e.g., Paquet et al., 2004, D’Souza et al., 2010; Steinfeld et al., 2010a; 2010b).
Figure 1: Accommodation model on clear floor space for wheeled mobility users. Lengths and widths in inches are given in the parentheses.
Data on occupied floor area length and width are summarized in the form of an “accommodation model” (Fig. 1) that depicts the 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentile values computed for occupied length and width across manual chair, powered chair and scooter users. International convention requires the use of the metric system in the science of anthropometry. So, we have shown imperial equivalents in parentheses. The results suggest that a width of 32” and length of 54” approximates the 95th%tile values of occupied length and width for manual chair users, and 90th%tile values of length and width for the power chair and scooter users (highlighted in red).
In vehicles, tight spaces require greater tolerances, similar to what would be required in alcoves, to position wheelchairs into place in reserved seating areas and in securement locations. On rail vehicles, securement of WMD users is not required for two reasons. First, it is not required of other passengers. Second, the mass of rail vehicles is so large that the de-acceleration forces in a collision are not as severe as with motor vehicles. But, on long distance rail, WMD users may transfer out of their device. In that case, the device should be stowed to prevent it from becoming an obstacle in an emergency or from injuring others due to a collision or sudden movement. Stowage spaces do not have to be as large as the CFS because the devices are unoccupied. Note that scooters and power chairs cannot be folded to be stowed.
Research on rail systems also demonstrates that many large items are brought onto rail systems, including things like baby carriages, bicycles, lawnmowers and plumbing fixtures. When not used by WMD users, reserved spaces can be useful for keeping these objects out of the circulation path. Moreover, flip down seats can be provided that can be used to eliminate any loss of capacity when WMD users are not occupying such spaces.
In some rail systems, seating is longitudinal, e.g. along the outside walls facing in; in others it is in rows facing forward or both forward and backward. In still others, both types are used. In special cars, like dining and observation cars, table seating may be provided. WMD users should have equivalent types of seating, with access to equivalent amenities such as a firm table top, wherever it is provided in an accessible level or car. Thus, flexibility is needed to address the different possibilities.
CFS for occupied devices shall be provided immediately inside accessible entrances.
An accessible path of travel shall be provided to all CFS.
The CFS shall not be located in vestibules or other areas where seating is not provided for other passengers, although an accessible path of travel is needed in these areas.
The CFS for occupied devices shall be a minimum of 32 in. x 54 in. for each device accommodated unless the sides of the CFS are bounded by immovable objects.
At least two CFS spaces shall be provided on each car. They can be grouped together in one contiguous space or separated into more than one space.
An additional tolerance of 6 in. of width and 12 in. of depth should be provided where the space is bounded. Both tolerances are needed where the space is bounded on three sides but only one tolerance (whichever is appropriate) if the space is only bounded on two sides.
A set of illustrations is needed to show how these basic tolerances are applied in different types of seating arrangements.
Flip down seats should be provided in the CFS to use by ambulant passengers when not used by wheelchair users.
“Transfer seats” should be available on all accessible cars. The number required should be based on the capacity of the car (to be determined).
Flip down seats may be designated as transfer seats, in which case, the flip down seat cannot protrude into the CFS.
A CFS should be provided next to all transfer seats.
Stowage for WMD users may be combined with stowage space for other devices, e.g. bicycles, strollers, packages and other objects. Stowage space shall be separated from passenger seating by partitions.
To the left is a view along the length of a commuter rail platform with the train to the left positioned for boarding and alighting. There is a gap a few inches wide between the doorway and the platform and it is filled with a short bridge that appears to be attached to the car just at an open doorway.
To the left is a view along the length of a Chinese high speed rail platform with the train to the left positioned for boarding and alighting. The door thresholds appear to be directly aligned with the platform to accommodate level boarding along the full length of the train.
To the left is a view along the length of a light rail platform with the train to the left approaching the boarding and alighting area. The door thresholds appear to be positioned at the level of the full length of the platform.
To the left is a view of an intercity or commuter rail car with its car-borne lift extended. A man using a wheelchair is entering the lift as a rail assistant looks on and a woman and child approach the stairs in the same doorway.
To the left is a view of a commuter rail car and its car-borne lift partially raised with a man using a wheelchair on-board. A rail assistant is resting his hand on the raised handrail.
To the left is a view of an intercity rail car next to a low platform. Stairs are extended to access the car with the floor approximately 30 inches above the platform. Many people are standing on the platform, but there is no portable, station-based lift in the picture.
To the left is a view of a station-based lift. It appears to be placed under a structure where it can be easily accessed, but is out of the way.
To the left is a view of ramp attached to a rail car. The floor of the rail car appears to be approximately 6-9 inches above the platform. The ramp is deployed onto the yellow detectable warning strip.

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