Feds to spend $1.7B to make rail stations accessible

Feds to spend $1.7B to make rail stations accessible
As usual, Larry Higgs' comprehensive and factual report:
https://www.nj.com/news/2022/07/feds-to ... sible.html
and the USDOT summary:
https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.d ... gram_0.pdf

How are these funds transferred for the Amtrak LD stations? Will they go thru Amtrak? IMO it would be better if they did not go thru Amtrak. One less entity to go thru and not allow Amtrak to delay the work. If separate then one less reason Amtrak has to list as reasons to curtail LD trains. .

west point wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 1:16 pm How are these funds transferred for the Amtrak LD stations? Will they go thru Amtrak? IMO it would be better if they did not go thru Amtrak. One less entity to go thru and not allow Amtrak to delay the work. If separate then one less reason Amtrak has to list as reasons to curtail LD trains. .

It appears that the funding is for commuter rail, not Amtrak. To the extent that there are some shared stations, Amtrak may benefit, but the funds would be provided to the commuter agencies which would manage the project.

1.7 billion could make a decent dent in the accessibility backlog. Because never commuter rail systems in the US are post-ADA, there are only the legacy systems with non-accessible stations:

• MBTA: 32 / 141 not currently accessible (5 non-accessible stations indefinitely closed and may not reopen, 2 currently under construction)
• Metro-North: 55 non-accessible and 22 with some access issues / 125 total stations
• LIRR: 16 non-accessible and 92 with some access issues / 126 total stations
• NJT: 80 /166 not currently accessible
• SEPTA: 80 / 155 not currently accessible
• MARC: 15 / 43 not currently accessible
• South Shore Line: last non-accessible station being rebuilt
• Metra: 39 non-accessible and 12 with access issues / 242 total stations
• Caltrain: 2 non-accessible stations (plus one limited-service stop and one gameday-only stop) / 31 total stations

By my count, that's around 320 non-accessible stations plus 126 with some access issues. 1.7 billion gives an average of 3.8 million per station. That's small change compared to major station renovations (30-50 million typical for the MBTA), but it would go a long way at many stations that just need a mini-high platform or some small accessibility fixes.

The EGE wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:42 pm MARC: 15 / 43 not currently accessible

Hmmm... a lot of these would be repaving a longer stretch of station and getting a crank-up lift for those stations for MARC. Stations along the NEC, though, would be worth a rebuild -- West Baltimore is slated for that for the Fredrick Douglas Tunnel project.

Good question how many stations simply need a ramp to the platform then some type of ramp to get into the railcars. How many railcars need to be fitted to get onboard then seated or strapped in? So for many stations should not be expensive to make modifications.

Maybe most of this will go for stations that need elevators or other device to supplement the ramps.

Isn't these funds just for subways? Commuter and Amtrak not included? hope I am wrong.

It is for commuter rail, light rail and subways. For heavy rail stations/platforms shared by commuter rail and Amtrak, such appear to be eligible, though Amtrak would not receive the funding, the state or state/local agency would receive the funds. "Summary: The main purpose of the ASAP Program is to providing funding to States (including territories and Washington, D.C.) and local governmental authorities to help finance capital projects to upgrade the accessibility of legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation systems (e.g., subway, commuter rail, light rail) for persons with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, by increasing the number of existing stations or facilities, such as outdoor light-rail boarding and alighting areas, that are fully accessible." https://www.transit.dot.gov/ASAP-NOFO

In that case, lets consider possibly the worst case for light rail: Pittsburgh Regional Transit's Light Rail system.

The cars I doubt you can open just the second-back right-hand doors, which are high-level. If you're boarding low level, you're boarding at the front of the LRV because that's where the stairs are, and you're paying your fare there. (Fare purchasing/verification is a bit messy in Pittsburgh, TBH)

So for the 20+ stations that are low-floor boarding? You got to extend them with a ramp and raise them up. And some places can't be done there.

Tricky that one is.

west point wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 11:41 pm Isn't these funds just for subways? Commuter and Amtrak not included? hope I am wrong.

May be some stations like CUS where Metra & Amtrak share the facility. Would be good candidate to install ramps & elevators to get from streetside to lower levels & trackside. In the Amtrak surveys depends across the system who owns the station & what needs to be done to comply with ADA.

May be some other stations like La Grange IL where Metra shares with 2x a day Amtrak. All that may be needed is some ramps to get from street to platform. You could see the same kind of work at sidewalk crossings.

Would be a good question for equipment if commuter gallery cars, Superliners, the new Siemens cars share similar height above/below platform for passengers to get on with little assistance. Can someone in a wheelchair be seated & braced inside. Do all doors, aisles, access to bathroom need to have common standards.