MBTA Contracted Bus Vehicle Accessibility Checklist_Transit Bus_7.1.25.pdf

MBTA Vehicle Accessibility Inspection Checklist for Third-Party Transit Buses

This checklist references the accessibility requirements specified in 49 CFR Part 38 – ADA Accessibility Specifications for Transportation Vehicles.

Name of Third-Party Vendor

Bus Make/Model

Note: A checklist should be completed for each bus model

Vehicle Year

Vehicle Length

Number of Vehicles of this make/model

Name of Person Completing Checklist

Signature

Date

Ramp Specifications

Specification (Regulation) Vehicle Meets Specification (Yes/No/NA)

Note Actual Measurement When Specific Dimensions are Required

Design Load

The design load of the ramp is:

• If the ramp is 30” or longer, a minimum of 600 lbs.

• If the ramp is shorter than 30”, a minimum of 300 lbs.

(§ 38.23(c)(1))

Ramp Dimensions

Ramp is a minimum of 30” wide. (§ 38.23(c)(2))

Barriers

Side barriers are a minimum of 2” high. (§ 38.23(c)(4))

Ramp Design & Materials

Ramp surface is continuous and slip resistant. Protrusions are a maximum of 1/4” high. (§ 38.23(c)(2))

The boarding edge of the ramp has a band of color that contrasts with the floor surface (typically, white or bright yellow against dark floors). (§

38.25(b))

The boarding edge of the ramp is no more than ½” high. If the boarding edge is between ¼” and ½” high, the edge is beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2. (§ 38.23(c)(3))

Gaps between the ramp and vehicle finish floor are a maximum of 5/8” wide. (§

38.23(c)(6))

The ramp, when deployed to ground level, has a slope that does not exceed 1:4

(i.e., if the finished floor is 12” above the ground, the ramp must be a minimum of 48” L).

When the ramp is deployed to a 6” curb, the ramp slope does not exceed the following slope measurements when the distance between the vehicle floor and curb is:

• 3” or less – maximum slope of 1:4 (25%)

• 6” or less, but more than 3” – maximum slope of 1:6 (16.6%)

• 9” or less, but more than 6” – maximum slope of 1:8 (12.5%)

• Greater than 9” – maximum slope of 1:12 (8.3%)

(§ 38.23(c)(5))

Securement Area Specificaions

(Yes/No/NA)

Note Actual Measurement When Specific Dimensions are Required

Number of Securement Areas Required

Vehicle is equipped with a minimum of two (2) securement locations (vehicle length is more than 22’) (§ 38.23(a))

Securement Area Dimensions

Each securement area has a clear floor area of 30” W x 48” L. This can include an area up to 6” under a seat as long as there is a vertical clearance of at least

9”.

Note: If flip-seats are utilized, they cannot obstruct the required floor area.

Note: The required floor area can overlap the access path. (§ 38.23(d)(2))

The securement system accommodates all common wheelchairs (any mobility aid not exceeding 30” W x 48” L and weighing no more than 600 lbs. when occupied)* [§ 38.23(d)(3)]

Securement Area Design

The securement system keeps mobility aids from moving no more than 2” in any direction.(§ 38.23(d)(5))

A seat belt and shoulder harness is provided for each securement area. The seat belt and shoulder harness is separate from the securement system for the mobility device. (§ 38.23(d)(7))

Each securement location has a sign designating it as such. Characters on these signs have:

(1) A width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1

(2) A stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10

(3) Minimum height (using an uppercase “X”) of 5/8”

(4) Wide spacing (generally, the space between letters must be 1/16 the height of uppercase letters)

(5) Contrast with the background, either light-on dark or dark-on-light. (§

38.27(b) and (c))

Securement areas are equipped with stop request buttons for requesting stops and alerting the driver through auditory and visual indications that a mobility device user wishes to disembark. Buttons must:

(1) Be mounted between 48” and 15” AFF

(2) Be operable with one hand

(3) Not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist

(4) Not require more than 5 lb of force to activate.

(§ 38.37)

General Vehicle Specifications

(Yes/No/NA)

Note Actual Measurement When Specific Dimensions are Required

Doors and Steps

Aisles, steps, and floor areas are slip resistant. (§ 38.25(a))

The width of the aisle between the front door and each wheeled mobility device securement area is at least 32”

Step edges and thresholds have a band of color that contrasts with the step/floor surface (typically, white or bright yellow against dark floors). (§ 38.25(b))

The height of doors at accessible entrances is a minimum of 68” (vehicle length is more than 22’).

The overhead clearance between the top of the door opening and the highest point of a ramp, shall be measured to determine the door height.

(§ 38.25(c))

Signage

Vehicle is equipped with signs for at least two sets of forward-facing seats indicating that those seats are priority seats for persons with disabilities.

Characters on these signs must have:

1) A width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1

2) A stroke width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10

3) Minimum height (using an uppercase “X”) of 5/8 inch

4) Wide spacing (generally, the space between letters must be 1/16 the height of uppercase letters)

5) Contrast with the background, either light-on-dark or dark-on-light. (§

38.27(a), § 38.27(c))

Handrails

Vehicle is equipped with handrails in the vehicle entrance so that a person can grasp the handrail to board from outside the vehicle. In addition, handrails:

(1) Have a cross-sectional diameter of 1.25” to 1.5” or provide equivalent grasping service

(2) Have eased edges with corner radii of at least 1/8”

(3) Are placed to provide a minimum of 1.5” of knuckle clearance

(§ 38.29(b))

On vehicles more than 22 feet in length with on-board fare collection systems, a horizontal assist is provided across the front of the vehicle. (§ 38.29(b))

Vehicle is equipped with an overhead handrail(s) that runs continuously except for a gap at the rear doorway (vehicle length is more than 22’). (§ 38.29(c))

Vehicle is equipped with handrails that are permit safe boarding, on-board circulation, sitting and standing assistance, and exiting. (§ 38.29(d))

Interior Circulation

The interior height along the access aisle between entrances and securement areas is a minimum of 68” (vehicle length is more than 22’). (§ 38.25(c))

Vertical stanchions immediately behind the driver either terminate at the lower edge of the aisle-facing seats or are “dog-legged” so that the floor attachment does not impede or interfere with wheelchair footrests. (§ 38.29(e))

The driver’s seat platform does not extend into the aisle or vestibule beyond the wheel housing, to the maximum extent practicable, on vehicle’s which require wheelchair users to pass the driver’s seat (§ 38.29(e))

Lighting

All vehicle doorways have outside lights that, when the door is open, provide at least 1 foot-candle of lighting on the street surface for a distance 3 feet to the bottom step tread or lift outer edge. These lights must be shielded to protect the eyes of entering and exiting passengers. (§ 38.31(c))

Doorways with lifts or ramps must have at all times at least 2 foot-candles of lighting measured on the step tread or lift or ramp, when deployed at the vehicle floor level. (§ 38.31(b))

Passenger Information System

Vehicle is equipped with a public address system permitting the driver to announce stops and provide other passenger information within the vehicle

Required if a vehicle is more than 22 feet in length and used in multiple-stop, fixed-route service. (§ 38.35(a))

Vehicle is equipped with a public address system permitting recorded or digitized human speech messages to announce stops and provide other passenger information within the vehicle. (§ 38.35(a))

Vehicle is equipped with illuminated front and side destination signs.

Characters on these signs must have:

(1) A width-to height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1

(2) A stroke width-to height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10

(3) A minimum character height (using an uppercase “X”) of 1” for signs on the boarding side

(4) A minimum character height of 2” for front “head signs”

(5) Wide spacing (generally, the space between letters must be 1⁄16 the height of uppercase letters)

(6) Contrast with the background, either dark-on-light or light-ondark.

If route and destination information is displayed on a vehicle’s exterior, the vehicle must have illuminated signs on its front and boarding side. (§ 38.39)