[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR38.53]

[Page 559]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
          Subtitle A--Office of the Secretary of Transportation
 
PART 38_AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ACCESSIBILITY SPECIFICATIONS 
FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart C_Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems
 
Sec.  38.53  Doorways.

    (a) Clear width. (1) Passenger doorways on vehicle sides shall have 
clear openings at least 32 inches wide when open.
    (2) If doorways connecting adjoining cars in a multi-car train are 
provided, and if such doorway is connected by an aisle with a minimum 
clear width of 30 inches to one or more spaces where wheelchair or 
mobility aid users can be accommodated, then such doorway shall have a 
minimum clear opening of 30 inches to permit wheelchair and mobility aid 
users to be evacuated to an adjoining vehicle in an emergency.
    (b) Signage. The International Symbol of Accessibility shall be 
displayed on the exterior of accessible vehicles operating on an 
accessible rapid rail system unless all vehicles are accessible and are 
not marked by the access symbol. (See Fig. 6.)
    (c) Signals. Auditory and visual warning signals shall be provided 
to alert passengers of closing doors.
    (d) Coordination with boarding platform--(1) Requirements. Where new 
vehicles will operate in new stations, the design of vehicles shall be 
coordinated with the boarding platform design such that the horizontal 
gap between each vehicle door at rest and the platform shall be no 
greater than 3 inches and the height of the vehicle 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 
vehicle air suspension or other suitable means of meeting the 
requirement.
    (2) Exception. New vehicles operating in existing stations may have 
a floor height within plus or minus 1\1/2\ inches of the platform 
height. At key stations, the horizontal gap between at least one door of 
each such vehicle and the platform shall be no greater than 3 inches.
    (3) Exception. Retrofitted vehicles shall be coordinated with the 
platform in new and key stations such that the horizontal gap shall be 
no greater than 4 inches and the height of the vehicle floor, under 50% 
passenger load, shall be within plus or minus 2 inches of the platform 
height.