Minutes: Access and Inclusion Reference Group

Date: Monday, 16 November

Location: Public Transport Centre, Summers Street,

Time: 4:30pm-6pm

Attendees: • METRONET: Natasha Guerinoni (NG), Zoe Jones (ZJ), Meg Harvey (MHa) • Department of Communities: Christopher Cable (CC) • Public Transport Authority: Jen Oxlade (JO), Deb Tan (DT), Louise Madden (LM), Jim Altham (JA), Garry Taylor (GT) • NEWest: Chris Deshon (CD), Dylan Hughes (DH) • AIRG representatives: Melissa Northcott (MN), Adam Hewber (AH), Elizabeth Edmondson (EE), Mark Hutson (MH), Siyat Abdi (SA), Erika Webb (EW) Apologies: • AIRG representatives: Jessica Clarkson (JC), Julie Waylen (JW), Christine Allen (CA), Brendan Cullinan (BC), Debbie Cameron (DC), Imran Ariff (IA), Jonathan van Butzelaar (JvB), Joe Hewber (JH), Dylan Botica (DB)

1. Previous meeting

Minutes accepted and no additional changes raised.

Outstanding actions:

Jun-20: More design details to be provided on the C-series trains when available Responsibility: Garry Taylor Status: Information to be provided to the group once Alstom has furthered the design. Update at Oct-20: Not in a position to provide an update. Update at meeting: An updated was provided at the 16 November 2020 meeting.

Jun-20: Further information on ACROD bays, accessible bays and drop off areas and summary of studies glare/exposure issues to be provided for the Yanchep Rail Extension and Thornlie-Cockburn Link Responsibility: Jorelle Little Status: Information to be provided to the group once NEWest Alliance has furthered design. Update at Oct-20: An update should be ready in November 2020. Update at meeting: Closed, an updated was provided at the 16 November 2020 meeting.

Jul-20: Adult changing facilities Responsibility: Deb Tan Status: Whether adult changing facilities could be considered across the network to be investigated. Update at Oct-20: Consideration to include this in PTA’s standards is currently being reviewed.

Update at meeting: Closed, this was discussed at last meeting and this will be addressed on a project by project basis. A national taskforce is also going to be addressing this.

2. Presentation: Station Accessibility requirements

Members had a discussion regarding their experiences at different stations or on bus replacements during train service disruptions or station access changes due to planned works.

• It was noted there are several stations that do not have wheelchair access on the network, and if this is not the user’s regular station, you would not know this until you are already there. Louise Madden (LM) said this information is available on the Transperth website but would ensure the information is prominent in disruption comms for accessibility groups. • AIRG members raised the train replacement bus stops are not always wheelchair accessible. Transperth staff should know this type of information. AIRG members also raised bus drivers need to ensure they can pull up in a place where the wheelchair can safely disembark. • NG raised there will be a high number of shutdowns in 2021, and that once more information is known the group will be notified. Specific disruption information along the Fremantle Line for the Claremont Station upgrade will be shared at a meeting in January 2021. • AIRG members suggested temporary tactiles during service disruptions or station changes could assist with accessibility for vision impaired. • LM noted that vast bulk of train replacement stops are compliant. Happy to hear from the public regarding stops you use and any concerns regarding a bus boarding area, we can review. LM encouraged people to sign up for My Alerts to keep informed and plan accordingly. • LM noted with project planned works where bus stops need to be relocated, projects must liaise with Transperth to reinstate the bus stops in accordance with DDA. For example, Bayswater Project. As a result of Whatley Cr being changed to one way two new bus bays are to be constructed for Route 48 bus services and train replacement bus services on Railway Parade.

3. Discussion: Railcar Project - Alstom

Garry provided an update on the Railcar Project, specifically on the new C-series trains, following their presentation in June 2020, addressing the following:

• Doorways – the yellow strips will be wider and have greater definition on the edge of the door to make it stand out more, and there will be a call for aid unit near the window. • Pushbuttons - the style is very different to the current soft touch, there will be sounds so it will be clearly known if the button has been activated. • Seats – new green colour for regular seats, and blue for priority seats, this will not have writing on them, only the colours will identify the difference. There is active consideration to update this across the current fleet. A USB-A charging point will be located just below and between the two seats side-by-side. • DMU – a window has been added into the accessible area which also includes a tray table and call to aid unit. The carriages will be built to take out seats up to six seats for more accessible spots. Specifications for the buffet area are still being finalised but the

counter and toilet area will be fully accessible, with a square toilet (the same as on Victoria’s new Velocity trains)

Questions then posed to the group were:

• On the inside of the train’s doors, would it be preferred to keep the push button on the sides of the doors or moved to the middle of the doors? Would a position in the centre of the inside door face create any issues with wheelchairs? . No major concerns with this location were raised

Questions

• AH – Has the gap between the train and platforms been improved? o Whilst it won’t be completely eradicated, as stations are upgraded the gap will be improved. As identified previously, we recommend mobility aids (such as wheelchairs and gophers) use the two outer doors for each carriage as the middle door is where the carriage will be slightly higher due to the carbody design. • AH – Have the door opening and closing times been extended as part of this project? o GT will obtain the door operating timings and provide to the group, the timings are anticipated to be similar to the existing trains and a local visual/audible warning will proceed any door movement • AH – Will larger text be available on passenger information screens? o The text size standards will be met. It should be easier to see the text though as there will be more screens than currently with three double-sided screens per railcar (one at each door). • AH – Is there an opportunity for haptic buttons to help know when it has been pressed? o You will be able to feel when the button has been operated as well as a sound. • MH - Can people transfer from wheelchairs into the seats on the Australind? o This is a question for and would need to be arranged when booking the journey. • EE – Will the seats on the Australind be able to turn around? o Yes, the row in front of the accessible areas can swivel around so it’s possible to face the person in the chair behind. • A – Will there be manual override for the DMU toilet doors? o Yes, there will be an emergency manual release.

4. Presentation and discussion: NEWest

NEWest provided a presentation of the stations on the Thornlie-Cockburn Line and addressed outstanding actions from the June 2020 meeting:

• Number of accessible bays – the numbers of accessible bays will exceed the required numbers for each station on both lines. Numbers of bays at each station are: o Nicholson Road: 20 (requirement is 19) o Ranford Road: to be determined o Alkimos: 22 (requirement is 13) o Eglinton: 20 (requirement is 9) o Yanchep: 30 (requirement is 20) • Lifts – there will be a push button on a separate unit outside the lift to allow gophers/wheelchairs to get close enough to push it, rather than having the button on the

door, there will be tactile paving, lifts will be through lifts and will be glazed to ensure visibility. • Glare – an environmental comfort assessment has been undertaken considering wind, sun, and rain. An example was presented as to the risk of glare from the station building and the various measures considered in the design to mitigate such as apply low reflective films. • Thornlie Station – as this is an existing station the designs are more constrained and involve relocating the existing accessible bays. There will be direct access to the pathway and into the station from the accessible bays, a ramp structure onto the existing pathway will be erected. The width of each accessible bay will be 2.4m with a 2.4m shared zone in between each bay. The length will be 5.4m in line with Australian standards. • Nicholson Road Station – there will be three accessible bays in the drop off area, with a pathway parallel to the busway going into the station. The access from the drop off bay is via a continuous pathway level with the road, with a connecting ramp to the station forecourt paving level (at top of kerb level) at each end of the drop off. There will be wind/rain shades around each of the lifts to stop water and debris entering the lifts. • Ranford Road Station – the accessible parking bays will have flush curb running onto the same level straight onto the path, and the pathway will extend up and connect to the station entrance. There will be an accessible drop off bay in the kiss and ride area with 7.8m bays to drop off, noting it will be straight off the curb onto the pathway, with a gradual change in grade.

Questions then posed to the group were:

• What line-marking for the accessible bays is preferred, noting that Australian Standards need to be consulted? o Black and yellow would stand out more. • Of the landscape patterns presented on the footpaths near and going into the station, which have been developed in-line with station themes with the METRONET Noongar Reference Group, are there any accessibility issues with the design? o Yes, the spiralling of bright colours may cause confusion on the walking path for those with vision impairments as they may be confused for tactile and cause someone to think they are indicating a hazard or message. Same applies from intermixing coloured bricks as it confuses the cues of where to do. Smaller tile squares can make it harder for wheelchairs on the paths.

Questions

• AH - What are the dimensions of the ACROD bays, as some vans are large and need a longer space for rear ramp access o Bays are 2.4m wide with a 2.4m shared zone between, and 5.4m long – this meets standards. • MH – Will the lifts have independent power sources? o They will have a backup supply should the power go down for a short period of time. • MH - Is there a standard for the glare and reflection? o Unsure, JO will report back on whether the environmental comfort assessment is a standard across all projects. • MH – Is the drop off and parking at the same grade at the Nicholson Road Station? o There is a level difference to go up onto the paving. • SA – How long is the drop off area at Nicholson Road Station? o It is approximately 50m length, width, with an overall 1.5m grade.

• MH - Is the taxi drop off in the same area as the drop off at Nicholson Road Station? o Yes, all kiss and ride drop off areas are together, including the accessible drop off bays. • MH – Are there adult change rooms? o There are facilities that could be used as such, however there is not a dedicated one in the design. This requirement is assessed project by project. • EE – What’s currently around Ranford Road Station? o Currently a largely industrial area, there is precinct planning taking place to determine potential future uses for the area.

5. New actions • METRONET - A meeting will be arranged for January 2021 to focus on accessibility for the planned shutdowns for 2021 for METRONET works. • Gary Taylor – present further designs on the Australind buffet area. • Chris Deshon – provide an update on landscape patterns. • Jen Oxlade – determine if environmental comfort assessments are a standard requirement for all projects.