36 CFR Part 1190, Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

Transit Shelters (R308.2) (Section-by-Section Analysis)

Transit shelters must be connected by a pedestrian access route to boarding and alighting areas or boarding platforms. A clear space (see R404) must be provided entirely within the transit shelter. Where seating is provided within transit shelters, the clear space must be located either at the end of a seat, or not overlap the area within 460 millimeters (1.5 feet) from the front edge of the seat in order to not interfere with others using the seating. Environmental controls within transit shelters must be proximity actuated. Protruding objects within transit shelters must comply with the technical requirements for protruding objects (see R402).

The Access Board is considering whether to require a turning space in transit shelters. Transit shelter designs vary. Some transit shelters are enclosed on three or four sides, with an opening for ingress and egress. The turning space would be based on the 2004 ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines (see 304.3).⁴³  The turning space would be permitted to overlap the clear space within the transit shelter and the pedestrian access route, but would not be permitted to overlap the area within 460 millimeters (1.5 feet) from the front edge of seats in the transit shelter in order to not interfere with others using the seating. The portion of the turning space that does not overlap the clear space would be permitted to be outside the transit shelter.

Question 20. Comments are requested on whether a turning space should be required in transit shelters and what impact such a requirement would have on the design and placement of transit shelters?

⁴³The 2004 ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines require a turning space to be either a circular space 1.5 meters (5 feet) minimum in diameter, or a T-shaped space within a square with sides 1.5 meters (5 feet) minimum where the arms and base of the T-Shaped space are 915 millimeters (3 feet) minimum. Each arm of the T-shaped space must be clear of obstructions 305 millimeters (1 foot) minimum in each direction, and the base must be clear of obstructions 610 millimeters (2 feet) minimum. A circular space is permitted to include knee and toe clearance. A T-shaped space is permitted to include knee and toe clearance only at the end of either the base or one arm.