Ministry of Community and Social Services - Transportation Accessibility Standard

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INITIAL PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD - FIXED ROUTE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES - CONVEYANCE REQUIREMENTS 5.0 - 5.19.2

Initial Proposed Transportation Accessibility Standard

May 28, 2007

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5.0 Fixed Route Passenger Transportation Services – Conveyance Requirements

5.1 Urban transit buses

The transportation provider shall provide urban transit buses that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.2 Streetcars

The transportation provider shall provide streetcars that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.3 Subway cars

The transportation provider shall provide subway cars that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.4 Light rail car transit

The transportation provider shall provide light rail cars that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.5 Family of service vehicles

The transportation provider shall provide family of service vehicles that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.6 Commuter railcars

The transportation provider shall provide commuter railcars that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.7 Inter-city railcars

The transportation provider shall provide inter-city railcars that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.8 Commuter buses

The transportation provider shall provide commuter buses that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.9 Inter-city coaches

The transportation provider shall provide inter-city coaches that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations.

5.10 Ferry vessels

The transportation provider shall provide ferry vessels that conform to all applicable legislation and regulations and the Canadian Transportation Agency Code of Practice for Ferry Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (1999).

http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/access/codes/ferry/index_e.html

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.11 Fare payment and ticket validation equipment

5.11.1 Where fare payment and ticket validation equipment is provided on the conveyance, the transportation provider shall provide equipment that is accessible and allows for secure use by persons with disabilities.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	18 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	18 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	18 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	18 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	18 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	18 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	18 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	18 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	18 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	18 years

5.11.2 Where fare payment and ticket validation equipment is not yet accessible on the conveyance, the transportation provider shall offer an alternative service for fare payment and ticket validation consistent with the operating environment of the service.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.12 Boarding/de-boarding points

Where a passenger is unable to board/de-board at a designated accessible boarding/de-boarding location because of a temporary barrier, the transportation provider shall ensure that the operator allows passengers to board/de-board at the next available safe location.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.13 International Symbol of Access

5.13.1 The transportation provider shall ensure that conveyances used for the transportation of persons with disabilities in transportable mobility aids display the International Symbol of Access.

5.13.2 On single unit conveyances, the International Symbol of Access shall be displayed in a clearly visible position on the rear of the vehicle and on the front of the vehicle in a position other than on the windshield.

5.13.3 On multi-unit conveyances, the International Symbol of Access shall be displayed in a clearly visible position near accessible entrances to the conveyance.

5.13.4 The International Symbol of Access shall:

(a) be square or circle with a height and width of not less than 150 mm (6 in); and
(b) consist of a symbol in white on a blue background as shown in Figure 1.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.14 International Symbol of Blindness

The transportation provider shall ensure that where stops are audibly announced on a conveyance the International Symbol for Blindness (as shown in Figure 2) for persons who are blind or who have low vision is displayed on the outside of the conveyance in a manner that will be visible to passengers boarding the vehicle.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.15 International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss

The transportation provider shall ensure that where stops are communicated visually through a message board or other electronic device on a conveyance the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss (as shown in Figure 3) will be displayed on the outside of the conveyance in a manner that will be visible to passengers boarding the vehicle.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.16 Route or destination signage

5.16.1 The transportation provider shall legibly display, or ensure that the operator legibly displays, the route or direction, or destination or next major stop of the conveyance such that it is visible at the boarding point.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.16.2 Where route or destination signs are displayed on the conveyance, the transportation provider shall ensure that all new conveyances have signs that:
a) are illuminated;
b) have non-glare surfaces;
c) are positioned to minimize glare; and
d) use characters that provide high contrast with the background.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.16.3 Where route or destination signs are used on the conveyance, the transportation provider shall ensure that all new conveyances have signs that achieve the appearance of solid characters.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	18 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	18 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	18 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	18 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	18 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	18 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	18 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	18 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	18 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	18 years

5.17 Pre-boarding route or destination announcements
For all services that do not require pre-booking, the transportation provider shall ensure that the operator audibly announces through manual or electronic means the route or direction, or destination or next major stop of the conveyance at the boarding point.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	18 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	18 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	18 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	18 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	18 years

5.18 Boarding/de-boarding lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates

5.18.1 Where lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates are used, the transportation provider shall ensure that the operator uses boarding/de-boarding lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates applicable to the conveyance at designated accessible stops if a person with a disability requests their use.

5.18.2 Where lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates are used, the transportation provider shall ensure that the operator does not deploy the boarding/de-boarding lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates if the operator deems the location or stop to be unsafe for deployment.

5.18.3 Where lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates are used, the transportation provider shall ensure that each end of boarding/de-boarding lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates be marked by a colour strip with high colour contrast to its background that runs the full width of the device or plate.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3 years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

5.19 Boarding/de-boarding assistance

5.19.1 The transportation provider of single-unit conveyances shall ensure that operators provide routine boarding/de-boarding assistance to passengers with disabilities where required and which does not jeopardize operator or passenger health and safety.

5.19.2 The transportation provider of single-unit conveyances shall ensure that operators do not request the assistance of persons, other than personal care attendants, for routine boarding/de-boarding assistance to a person with a disability unless the person with a disability requests or consents to such assistance.

Class		Shall comply with this requirement within n years after this standard is adopted in regulation
Class I	Fixed route urban transit bus	3 years
Class II	Fixed route streetcar	3 years
Class III	Fixed route subway car	3 years
Class IV	Fixed route light rail car	3 years
Class V	Family of service vehicles	3 years
Class VI	Fixed route commuter rail car*	3 years
Class VII	Fixed route inter-city rail car	3 years
Class VIII	Fixed route commuter bus	3 years
Class IX	Fixed route inter-city coach	3years
Class X	Fixed route ferry vessel	3 years

*Applies to designated transportable mobility aid accessible rail cars only.

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Created On: Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 27, 2007