Commuter Rail Station Guidelines and Standards August 2007 These guidelines constitute internal recommendations only, are not now and have never meant to substitute for legal requirements. They provide guidance and do not mandate specific or absolute requirements or specifications for Metra rail station construction, alteration, or maintenance. In the case of any conflict between these Metra Commuter Rail Station Guidelines and Standards and the requirements mandated by the United States and/or Illinois statutes and regulations, Federal and State statutes and regulations shall control over these guidelines and standards, and compliance with Federal and State statutes and regulations shall conclusively constitute compliance with all Metra guidelines and standards. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. PLATFORMS .......................................................................................................................... 2 A. GENERAL........................................................................................................................... 2 B. LOCATION ......................................................................................................................... 2 C. SINGLE LINE TRACKS...................................................................................................... 2 D. MULTIPLE LINE TRACKS ................................................................................................. 2 E. CROSS TRACK BOARDING ............................................................................................. 2 F. AVOIDANCE OF CURVED PLATFORMS ......................................................................... 2 G. PLATFORM DIMENSIONS ................................................................................................ 3 H. PLATFORM LENGTH EXCEPTIONS ................................................................................ 4 I. ACCESS............................................................................................................................. 4 J. TACTILE STRIPS/DETECTABLE WARNINGS ................................................................. 8 K. TRACK CROSSINGS......................................................................................................... 8 L. AMENITIES ........................................................................................................................ 8 M. PASSENGER AMENITIES & SEATING ............................................................................ 9 III. STATION BUILDINGS.......................................................................................................... 11 A. NEW AND REPLACEMENT STATIONS ......................................................................... 11 B. EXISTING STATIONS...................................................................................................... 11 C. WAITING AREA GUIDELINES......................................................................................... 11 D. DEPOTS........................................................................................................................... 12 E. TICKET AGENT OFFICES............................................................................................... 14 F. ACCESSABILITY OF STATION BUILDINGS .................................................................. 15 G. VENDOR AREAS ............................................................................................................. 17 H. PUBLIC RESTROOMS .................................................................................................... 18 I. AUXILIARY SPACES ....................................................................................................... 19 J. INTERIOR REHABILITATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS ............................................. 19 K. EXTERIOR REHABILITATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS ............................................ 19 L. NEW DEPOT CONSTRUCTION...................................................................................... 20 M. WARMING HOUSES........................................................................................................ 20 N. SHELTERS....................................................................................................................... 26 O. ELECTRIC TICKETHOUSES/HEADHOUSES ................................................................ 26 P. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS...................................................................................... 33 IV. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS .................................................................................................... 36 A. HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) ............................................ 36 B. PLUMBING & FIRE PROTECTION ................................................................................. 38 C. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ................................................................................................. 39 D. COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS...................................................................................... 43 V. LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................ 44 A. GENERAL.........................................................................................................................44 B. EXISTING PLANT AND LANDSCAPE MATERIAL.......................................................... 44 C. SCREENING .................................................................................................................... 44 D. TREES.............................................................................................................................. 44 E. EMBANKMENTS.............................................................................................................. 44 F. BUSHES........................................................................................................................... 44 G. UNPAVED GROUND SURFACES .................................................................................. 44 Metra Commuter Rail Station Guidelines and Standards Page i Rev. 8/29/2007 VI. MISCELLANEOUS ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES............................................................ 45 A. GENERAL.........................................................................................................................45 B. SIGNAGE .........................................................................................................................45 C. TELEPHONES.................................................................................................................. 45 VII. MATERIAL & PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ................................................................... 46 A. PLATFORMS.................................................................................................................... 46 B. EXTERIOR WALLS .......................................................................................................... 47 C. ROOFING.........................................................................................................................48 D. SOFFITS AND LOGGIAS................................................................................................. 49 E. INSULATION .................................................................................................................... 49 F. DOORS AND HARDWARE.............................................................................................. 50 G. WINDOWS........................................................................................................................ 51 H. INTERIOR PARTITIONS.................................................................................................. 54 I. FLOORING....................................................................................................................... 55 J. CEILINGS......................................................................................................................... 56 K. WAITING AREA SEATING............................................................................................... 57 L. WARMING HOUSES........................................................................................................ 58 M. ELECTRIC TICKETHOUSE/HEADHOUSE STANDARDS.............................................. 59 N. OTHER STATION STRUCTURES................................................................................... 61 VIII. PROJECT DELIVERABLES AND PLAN FORMAT............................................................. 62 A. PROJECT DELIVERABLES............................................................................................. 62 B. PLAN FORMAT ................................................................................................................ 62 IX. GLOSSARY .......................................................................................................................... 63 APPENDIX A. PROJECT CHECKLISTS ...................................................................................A-1 APPENDIX B. HISTORIC STATIONS ........................................................................................B-1 APPENDIX C. COST DATA........................................................................................................C-1 Metra Commuter Rail