810.5.3 Platform and Vehicle Floor Coordination

Advisory 810.5.3 Platform and Vehicle Floor Coordination.  The height and position of a platform must be coordinated with the floor of the vehicles it serves to minimize the vertical and horizontal gaps, in accordance with the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles (36 CFR Part 1192).  The vehicle guidelines, divided by bus, van, light rail, rapid rail, commuter rail, intercity rail, are available at www.access-board.gov.  The preferred alignment is a high platform, level with the vehicle floor.  In some cases, the vehicle guidelines permit use of a low platform in conjunction with a lift or ramp.  Most such low platforms must have a minimum height of eight inches above the top of the rail.  Some vehicles are designed to be boarded from a street or the sidewalk along the street and the exception permits such boarding areas to be less than eight inches high.