Source: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/transportation/257-transportation-vehicles/rail-update/1636-boarding-and-alighting-june-25-2014?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=
Timestamp: 2018-02-21 17:17:00
Document Index: 294396201

Matched Legal Cases: ['§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', 'art 37', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', 'art 37', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', 'art 37', '§38', '§38', '§38', 'art 37', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38', '§38']

Boarding and Alighting - June 25 - United States Access Board
§38.53 Doorways.
§38.73 Doorways.
(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.
§38.83 Mobility aid accessibility.
(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.
§38.85 Between-car barriers
§38.91 General.
(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.
§38.93 Doorways.
(b) Passageways. A route at least 32 inches wide shall be provided from doors required to be accessible by paragraph (a)(1) of this section to seating locations complying with §38.95(d). In cars where such doorways require passage through a vestibule, such vestibule shall have a minimum width of 42 inches. (See Fig. 3)
(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.
§38.95 Mobility aid accessibility.
(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.
§38.109 Between-car barriers.
§38.113 Doorways.
(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.
§38.125 Mobility aid accessibility.
(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.
§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.
§38.179 Trams, similar vehicles and systems.
(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.
Fig, 6 International Symbol of Accessibility
RVAAC Subcommittee on Circulation
To: Subcommittee members
From: Ed Steinfeld, IDeA Center
Re: Clear floor space proposal
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.
The CFS represents the space required for an occupied stationary wheeled mobility device (WMD). This area is typically depicted as a rectangular space. The dimensions of the CFS should be based on measurements of occupied length and occupied breadth of wheeled mobility devices, which are defined as follows:
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.
The stowage space for unoccupied devices should be large enough for stowing as many WMDs as there are seating spaces for WMD users on a car. Minimum dimensions of any stowage space shall be ?? x ??. (Note: Although we have not yet analysed our data for unoccupied devices, we can do that and determine the overall space needed for power chairs and scooters.)
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.
Level boarding - Full platform level boarding
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.
Mini-high platforms
To the left is a view of a short raised platform area with shelter and seating. Stairs and a ramp lead to this waiting area and a sign states, “Board your train here.”
Car-borne lift
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.
Station based lift
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.
Ramp/bridgeplate
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.