USDOT WORKSHOP Envisioning Rail Vehicle Accessibility for the Coming Decades

Transcription

1 USDOT WORKSHOP Envisioning Rail Vehicle Accessibility for the Coming Decades Chris Hart U.S. Access Board Public Member Gary Talbot Amtrak Program Director ADA

2 Agenda History of Accessible Rail Car Design Low Floor Light Rail Accessibility Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Suspension Technologies Door Leaf Design and Implications Stanchion Design Onboard Passenger Information Systems Emergency Evacuation Equipment

3 History of Accessible Rail Car Design Rail vehicle manufacturers built utilitarian cars from 's As routes lengthened and grew in popularity, the design, aesthetic, and comfort of vehicles became a marketing and branding priority from 1850's 's. As transcontinental travel became popular, railroads advertised easy step entrances with lower riser heights to ease boarding for ladies and "distinguished gentlemen". Some advertised easy grip railings and "spacious washrooms for ladies" For mass transit, the trajectory is much the same except that the utilitarian phase has lasted much longer. Particularly in the US, attention to design is much more recent, perhaps borne of attracting drivers to mass transit

4 History of Accessible Rail Car Design As WWII ended, press clippings infrequently mention "special trains" to transport injured soldiers home. But once home there was no "special train or trolley. For the million+ significantly wounded mass transit wasn't accessible and no law required accessibility That changed in 1972 with the passage of the Rehabilitation Act - made possible largely through the vocal advocacy of people with disabilities including Vietnam, Korean, and WWII vets

5 The Rehabilitation Act Says in essence, any entity that receives federal funding may not discriminate against PWD. For transit this means ensuring access to stations and vehicles. This drives the evolution of things such as on board lifts, wider aisles, accessible restrooms, mini-high platforms at stations and elevators. Hawker, Bombardier, and other manufacturers all begin to offer cars with accessible seating, door openings of at least 32", vestibules of 42, etc. Simultaneously states such as MA & CA implement access codes, often more stringent then federal requirements And then...

6 The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act The ADA further strengthens the right of PWD to access mass transit. As part of that, the US Access Board is directed to write and adopt guidelines for both building and vehicle accessibility. Those guidelines were then adopted by US DOT as Parts 37 & 38.

7 Overseas... Unlike the US, Europe and Japan lacked the lengthy legal framework for accessibility yet often unbeknownst to many in the US, manufacturers and operators had realized the diverse needs of riders. For instance, Volvo rolled out the first low floor bus in the early 1970's noting it eased access for mothers with prams and elders" In the 1980's Japan rail manufacturers began offering dual mode audio/visual next station announcements By 1992 some TGV trains offered a restroom that was roughly twice the width of the US required 35 width In the 1990's, tram builders such as Siemens began testing 100% low floor trams, again with an eye to ease of use/boarding or universal design. By early 2000's cities worldwide were sold on the concept.

8 Trains are the Right Choice!

9 Rail Car Accessibility

10 Rail Car Accessibility

11 Rail Car Accessibility

12 Rail Car Accessibility

13 Fukuoka City Subway NANAKUMA Line Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Fixed Extension

14 Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Slide-Out Bridgeplate Static Rub Rail

15 Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Flip-Out Bridgeplate Stowed Flip-Out Bridgeplate Deployed

16 Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Pocket Bridgeplate Deployed Fold Out Bridgeplate Stowed

17 Platform Gap Fillers and Importance Minimal Gap No Filler Required

18 Suspension Technologies Active suspensions that level the car at the platform and eliminate the vertical gap are extremely helpful and provide the best possible accessibility regardless of vehicle load or other impacts Active suspensions have the potential to minimize the need to raise/lower the rail adjacent to the platform to ensure compliant vertical gap

19 Door leaf design and Implications Door Leaf Design that Does Not Allow Level Boarding Double Leaf Door Design that Does Not Provide Minimum Required Width When 1 Leaf Fails

20 Stanchion design Overseas stanchions and handgrips

21 Stanchion design

22 Stanchion design

23 Onboard Passenger Information Systems Must be effective, dual mode No minimum requirement for location, # of devices, etc. Making raw data available to develop smart phone apps and other solutions for effective communications with passengers with sensory disabilities

24 Onboard Passenger Information Systems Over the door communication Used extensively in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and parts of Europe. Virtually unseen in the US except for Airport people movers

25 Onboard Passenger Information Systems

26 Inside of Car : Latest System Information of next station. Location of Elevator, Escalator and Stairs.

27 Emergency Evacuation Equipment Key Elements: 500 LB Capacity Rigid Seat Ability to go up/down stairs

28 Alewife Station Simulated Derailment with simulated injuries Train stopped between two platforms inside tunnel People with disabilities onboard the train Person who is blind, person who is Deaf and two persons who use a wheeled mobility device Objective was to evacuate people with disabilities without carrying in a sling/stretcher or fireman's carry People with disabilities successfully evacuated while seated in an evacuation chair Evacuation chairs secured for transport on the Evacuation Carts

29 MBTA Evacuation Drill Cambridge, MA June 27, 2010 VIDEO