The Disabled Riders Coalition says the tragic death of an 18-year-old woman at the Woodside LIRR station, who slipped through the 11-inch gap between the train and platform, last week may have been avoided if the MTA followed ADA guidelines
“ADA regulations require level boarding at commuter rail stations (49 CFR Part 37, Appendix A, §10.3.1(9)). Level boarding is defined by the United States Department of Transportation as involving a horizontal gap of no more than three inches and a vertical gap of no more than 5/8 inches ( 1.5 inches for existing vehicles operating in new stations). The only exception to this is if the railroad can demonstrate that it is technically infeasible to achieve such compliance, and even in such scenarios, lack of feasibility must be demonstrated on an individual, station, by station basis. We do not believe that the MTA has done so with every single station on all of its commuter rail lines and as such believe that they are in violation of the ADA. Compliance therewith would not only serve to benefit riders with disabilities, but could have saved a young lady's life.”
Meanwhile, Long Island Rail Road brass announced they install cameras at the Syosset station where there is a 15-inch gap, to give train conductors a panoramic view of passengers boarding and exiting. The cameras are a prototype with no timetable for expanding to other stations.
New recorded announcements will tell riders to “watch the gap.” It is also looking at “gap fillers” but said they would be impractical at some stations.
-- Chuck Bennett amNY.com
