National Aging and Disability Transportation Center contact@nadtc.org 866-983-3222

This PowerPoint was downloaded from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center’s website (www.nadtc.org). It was developed by Easter Seals Project ACTION, a technical assistance center operated by Easter Seals, Inc. through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration.

WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG

Rail Accessibility: Ensuring Equal Access to a Growing Transportation ModeAn Easter Seals Project ACTION Promising Practices and Solutions in Accessible Transportation Webinar

December 1st, 2011 2 p.m. EDT

2

Speakers

• Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation, U.S. DOT

• Donald Kloehn, Senior PM/Accessibility Specialist, Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.

• Lauren Skiver, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Core Service, Maryland Transit Administration

• Gary Talbot, ADA Program Director, Amtrak

3

Richard Devylder Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary

richard.devylder@dot.govrichard.devylder@dot.gov(202) 366(202) 366--01290129

4

Code of Federal Regulations49 CFR 37.42

5

Amended Regulations Requiring

• Intercity, commuter and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure, at new and significantly renovated station platforms, that passengers with disabilities can get on and off any accessible car of the train.

• Passenger railroads must provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations.

6

Shared Tracks with Freight• Options for new or altered stations

when level board cannot be achieved:–Car-borne lifts–Mini-high platforms–Station-based lifts (mobile)

7

DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will review a railroad’s proposed method to ensure that it provides reliable and safe services to individuals with disabilities in an integrated manner.

8

The plan must describe how:• Equipment would be deployed,

maintained, and operated• Personnel would be trained and

deployed to ensure that service to individuals with disabilities was provided in a safe, timely, and reliable manner

WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG

Railways for AllAccessibility Strategies Lauren Skiver

Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Core Services

10

Rail Usage Among People with Disabilities• What we Know Verses What We Think We know

– Convenience of Paratransit vs. Rail Services Two Mode Process for most Rail Trips

– Level of Accessibility of Rail SystemsStation AccessibilityDifferences in Accessibility from One Region to Another

– Frequency of ServiceCommuter Mentality – ImpatienceCommuter Peaks Equal Mode Peaks

11

Existing Conditions

• Vehicles– Single Level– Bi-Level

• Existing Design Challenges– High Platform vs. Low Platform Vehicle Access– Platform / Vehicle Gaps (Commuter Rail)

• Station Platform Access– Elevator Availability– Customer Information

• Dual Track Use– Freight Verses Passenger

• Leased Infrastructure– Conflicting Responsibilities

12

Getting There

?

?

13

Before Travel and At the Station• Schedules and Timetables

Accessible Formats• Ticketing / Reservations• Station Facilities • Access Points• Lighting and Signage• Visual and Audio Information• Step Free Access

14

On the Train• Information Systems

– Reliable Information Technology– Signage

Where are the accessible cars?Elevator and Escalator InformationUniform Placement

• Vehicles– Accessible Rolling Stock

Securement AreasRestroomsService Animals

15

Key Component - People• Informed Staff

– Knowledge of Regulatory Requirements – Humanistic Approaches

Obligation / Requirement• Available Staff

– Trip Assistance• Assured Assistance

– Building Traveler Confidence

16

TECO Historic Streetcar System Tampa, Florida• Operational in October 2002

• Smaller LR Operation

• Joint venture between HART and City of Tampa

17

TECO Historic Streetcar System Tampa, Florida

• New Construction – Old Mistakes– Path of Travel– Passenger Boarding– Track Gaps at Crossings– Violation Reaction and Responses

Who Is Responsible?Who Will Fix It?

18

2 ½ inch gap and over 1 inch in riseGrate located at far left side of the picture in sidewalk.

Trash Can in Path of TravelNo service schedule kiosk on wheelchair access entrance.

19

Segregated Entrance Wheelchair and Ambulatory

Ramp slope requires handrailsReasonable Path of Travel

Blocked by Wheelchair Access Pole

20

Areas of Focus On Rail Services• Improved Customer Service• Passenger Education and Information• Multi-Modal Services

– Improved Linked Services– Timely Feeder Service

• Engineering Solutions– Ease of Station and Vehicle Access– Universal Design

• Regional Dialog

21

Areas Of Focus On Rail Services

• Real Time Passenger Information– Audio and Visual– Accessible Websites– Open Captions– Automated Stop Announcements – Accessible Self Service Kiosks

• Service Animals– On Board Accommodation – Facilities for Relief Areas at Stations

22

Lasting Impressions• Two Steps forward………

Employee/Transit System Education– Inclusion Instead of Requirement– Anticipating Customer Needs Rather than

Reacting to Customer Needs– Doing the Right Thing Before Legal Action

Development of Feeder and Link Services– Neighborhood Circulators and Flex Routes

» Dual Roles as Paratransit and Fixed Route

Passenger Education– System knowledge and Confidence– Customer Expectations

WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG

Accessible Fare Vending Equipment Session

Presented by:

Don Kloehn, AI/PESenior PM / Accessibility SpecialistTindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.1000 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 100Tampa, FL 33602813.224.8862

2424

Background

• Off-board fare purchase and collection machines are becoming more common in public transit systems.

• The 2004 ADAAG update includes extensive technical requirements for automatic fare vending and collection equipment.

• Transit agencies struggle with understanding of ADA requirements and manufacturers’ degree of compliance.

2525

Key ADAAG Requirements

• Must provide speech instruction for independent use of the device (49 CFR Part 37; Sections 220 & 707). Braille instructions for initiating the speech mode must be provided.

2626

Key ADAAG Requirements• Must be accessible and independently

usable.

• 48” reach range limit to operable controls which must be accessible.

• The same degree of privacy of input and output of information must be provided to all individuals.

2727

Key ADAAG Requirements• At least one tactilely discernible

input control shall be provided for each function.

• Function keys must contrast visually from background surfaces and characters and symbols on key surfaces must contrast visually from key surfaces.

2828

Important Considerations• Early review by knowledgeable expert of scope and

specifications for new equipment.

• Early review and testing of voice instruction script.

• Development model assessment and testing for ADAAG compliance (manufacturer site).

• Final assessment of delivered prototype unit for full ADAAG compliance.

• Focus group testing of delivered prototype unit to receive feedback and determine community acceptance.

2929

END

WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG

Accessibility on Amtrak

Gary Talbot

Amtrak Program Director ADA

31

Stations / ADA Accessibility• Amtrak Station Perspectives

• Amtrak’s Service for Customers with Disabilities

• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

• Platform Requirements

• Station Development Process

32

Amtrak Station Perspectives

33

The Case for Station Development and Investment

• Passenger Railroad Perspective–7 of 10 key factors – in the ‘seamless’ journey that define trip quality

and modal choice relate to stations: Learning, Planning, Starting, Entering, Ticketing, Waiting, Boarding, Riding, Arriving, Continuing

–Brand identification – Amtrak seeks a quality and accessible image for stations that match the efforts put into rolling stock and infrastructure quality/safety/accessibility

–Joint development/retail revenues (in selected cases)–Transit hub/multi-modal potential – “connected” goal of Amtrak

• Community Perspective–Economic development/TOD opportunity–Community image–Multi-modal station investment; rail as key mode in transportation

system–Station development matched to the scale of the community and

services• Dilemma—Sufficient Funding at all levels of government

34

Current Context: Amtrak Serves 529 Stations

• DOT map showing stations along route (M2)

35

Large Urban Stations Linked with Small Rural Stations

• Top 25 stations account for 63% of ridership

• Top 100 stations account for 87% of ridership

36

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500

Station Ridership Rank

FY08

Sta

tion

Rid

ersh

ip

-

Tota

l Ons

and

Offs

-

(mill

ions

) -

NY Penn Station (1)

Washington, DC (2)

Philadelphia 30th Street (3)

Chicago (4)

Los Angeles (5)Boston South Station (6)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500

Station Ridership Rank

FY08

Sta

tion

Rid

ersh

ip

-

Tota

l Ons

and

Offs

-(th

ousa

nds)

-

Boston South Station (6)

Sacramento (7)

Baltimore (8)

San Diego (9)

Albany-Rensselaer (10)

Wilmington (11) New Haven (12) Newark (13) Irvine (14) BWI Airport (15) Seattle (16) Providence (17) Portland, OR (18) Milwaukee (19) Emeryville (20) Harrisburg (21) Lancaster (22) Davis (23) Trenton (24) Solana Beach (25)

Bridgeport (100)

37

Amtrak’s Service for Customers with Disabilities

38

Communication, Training and Procedures• Pre-trip Communications with Customers

– Timetable – Indicates which stations are “Fully Accessible” and which provide Limited Access

– Amtrak.com – Directs passengers to call (800) USA RAIL to reserve accommodations for customers with disabilities

– Reservations / Call Centers – Give automatic 15% discount to customers with disabilities;provide trip planning information

• Training and procedures– All station, train and on-board

service staff trained to assist customers with disabilities

– Training manuals and Operations Service Standards updates issued to advise staff of policy changes

39

Communication, Training and Procedures

40

Fully Accessible versus Limited Accessible Stations

• “Fully Accessible”2 stations categorized as “all station facilities are fully accessible to persons using wheelchairs”–212 of 483 stations or 44%–Serving 46.5 million board/alight or 81%

• Limited access stations categorized as access between street or parking lot, station platform, and trains; however, not all facilities within the station are fully accessible”–142 of 483 stations or 30%–Serving 7.4 million board/alight or 13%

• From a functional point-of-view, 354 Amtrak stations (73%) have either full or Limited access—serving 94% of Amtrak passengers1

1. Based on data from the most recent Amtrak System Timetable (effective October 27, 2008) as adjusted by field surveys.2. Designation from Amtrak System Timetable. Does not equate to “ADA compliance”

41

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Requirements

42

ADA – General Requirements• Statutory requirements found at 42 USC 12101

• DOT regulations found at 49 CFR Part 37 (Transportation Services) and Part 38 (Transportation Vehicles)

• Prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities

• Covers public transportation providers, including Amtrak

• Covers transportation vehicles including trains (rolling stock)

• Covers rail stations, bus stations, buses and bus stops used by Amtrak

43

ADA – Station Requirements• New rail stations must be “readily accessible to and usable

by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs.”

• Describes the “responsible party” for purposes of making the stations ADA compliant

• Station owners and persons in control of station must cooperate with the responsible party

• Existing intercity rail stations must be made accessible by July 26, 2010– Amtrak has missed the deadline but is working hard to

make the improvements necessary to bring the system into full compliance with the ADA, ASAP

44

Stations Which Must be Made ADA Compliant Rail Stops

ServingAmtrak Routes

529

US Rail StopsServing

Amtrak Routes520

VIA Rail StationsServing

Amtrak Routes9

Amtrak RegularTrain Service

483

Service Suspendeddue to Katrina

12

Flag StopTrain Service Only

25

483 Require ADA Compliance

37 Do Not Require ADA Compliance

45

Platform Requirements

46

Current DOT Platform Regulations• New DOT Level Boarding Rules were issued on September 19,

2011– The new DOT platform rules require Amtrak to provide level

boarding platforms where they are the responsible entity and the tracks directly adjacent to the platform are passenger only tracks

– If the tracks directly adjacent to the platform are shared use tracks, freight and passenger traffic, Amtrak will evaluate the frequency of service and number of customers that board/alight at the location to determine the most effective means for providing accessible boarding

– Accessible board/alight strategies will include level boarding platforms, car borne lifts, mini-high platforms, and in some cases mobile lifts

47Car-borne Lifts

Assistive Boarding Devices for Passengers with Disabilities

Mini-High Platforms

Ramps

Level Boarding Platforms

48

Amtrak’s Platform Guidelines (currently being updated)

• Amtrak prefers full train-length platforms, but will consider other options

• Platform edges bordering drop-offs must have detectable warnings that are 24” wide

• Level boarding platforms are preferred by Amtrak but when not available assistive boarding devices will be available for customers with disabilities (mini-high platforms, ramps, in some cases station based lifts)

• Amtrak guidelines are consistent with AREMA standards

• Discrepancies with freight railroad standards will be resolved by Amtrak

• Amtrak will submit all station plans to FRA (and in some cases FTA) for review and approval per new DOT Level Boarding Rule

49

Challenges to Achieving Full Compliance

• Funding

• Time required for completion (since obtaining funding)

• Amtrak’s Report to Congress on February 1, 2009, as required by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) indicated that the initial deadline was infeasible–$1.56 billion required through September 2015 to complete the work

–Included state-of-good-repair and ADA for all responsible parties

50

Progress to date

• Since the 2009 ADA Report through CY2010, Amtrak awarded contracts totaling $109 million for ADA projects at more than 200 stations

• Renegotiated property rights agreements with seven host railroads for approx. 300 stations

• Refocused ADA compliance plan:– Excludes “state-of-good-repair” work included in the 2009 Report

– Gives higher priority to 150 stations where Amtrak has responsibility for all station components

51

Station Development Process

52

New Stations Development & Approval Process

P & DX

Co-LeadX

LeadX

Co-LeadX X

LeadX

Co-LeadX

LeadX X

LeadX X

GOVT AFFAIRSX

Co-LeadX X X X

Lead

LAWX X

Co-LeadX X

LeadX X

OPS/HOST RRX X

LeadX X X X X

FINANCEX

LeadX X X X

OPS/TRANSX X X X X X X X X

LeadX X

Co-Lead

OPS/ENGRX X

Co-LeadX X X X X X X

Lead

MKTGX X X X X X

Co-Lead

Timeta

ble

Publis

hing

Reque

st fro

m City

State A

ccep

tance

(if req

uired

)Prof

it and

Loss

Analys

is

Host R

ailroa

d

Permiss

ion

Agreem

ent

Requir

emen

tsAmtra

k New

Stop

Concu

rrenc

eDev

elopm

ent o

f

Agreem

ents/

Contra

cts

Contra

ct/Agre

emen

t

Signatu

res Timeta

ble

Develo

pmen

t with

Host R

ailroa

ds

Constr

uctio

n and

Inspe

ction

Physic

al

Feasib

ility

FRA Noti

ficati

on

Public

Ann

ounc

emen

t

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Red – Staff Summary

Purple – Timetable

Yellow – Lead

Green – Co-Lead

53

Station Planning and Funding• Amtrak’s support to local agencies through

planning process– Amtrak Station Program & Planning

Standards & Guidelines– Great American Stations—Outreach

for preservation and investment by local and state agencies

• Major initiatives – Aggressive implementation of the

Accessible Stations Development Plan– Station prototype development

54

Station Graphic Signage Standards Manual• Signage guidelines under continual development

• Recent updates–Latest ADA requirements –Branded signage

• Future features–Electronic Signage — PIDS

55

Advances in Customer Service at Stations• Wi-fi—Internet Access along the NEC; further expansions

expected

• Electronic Ticketing–Changing the passenger’s experience with ticketing–Streamlining ticket collection and manifest management–Improving seat utilization

• Passenger Information Display Systems–Support ADA compliance–Linkage with train tracking for real time updates

• Web Site Continual Improvements

56

Conclusion• Stations are critically important to communities and Amtrak

–Vital community centers and development generators–Critical links between community and transportation–Accessible service for disabled and elderly citizens

• Amtrak can support station development–Design Guidelines–Prototype Station Designs–Engineering Standards–Plan Reviews–General Consultation –Joint Planning Support

57

Conclusion

Thank You

Questions?

gary.talbot@amtrak.com