Evaluation of Railway Station Passenger Boarding Platform Gap Filler Solutions for North Carolina Institute for Transportation Research & Education, North Carolina State University: Mathew Palmer, MURP Joy Davis, MPA, PMP Christopher Cunningham, MSCE, PE Waugh Wright Jeffery Chang, PE NCDOT Project 2018-027 FHWA/NC/2018-027 November 2018 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report This page is intentionally blank. 2 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report North Carolina Department of Transportation Research Project No. 2018-027 Evaluation of Railway Station Passenger Boarding Platform Gap Filler Solutions for North Carolina Mathew Palmer Joy Davis Christopher Cunningham Waugh Wright Jeffery Chang November 2018 3 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report Technical Documentation Page Report No. Government Accession No. Recipient’s Catalog No. 2018-027 4. Title and Subtitle Report Date Evaluation of Railway Station Passenger Boarding Platform Gap Filler November 30, 2018 Solutions for North Carolina Performing Organization Code Author(s) Performing Organization Report No. Mathew Palmer, MURP; Joy Davis, MPA, PMP; Christopher Cunningham, MSCE, PE; Waugh Wright; Jeffery Chang, PE Performing Organization Name and Address Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Institute for Transportation Research and Education North Carolina State University Contract or Grant No. Centennial Campus Box 8601, Raleigh, NC Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Type of Report and Period Covered North Carolina Department of Transportation Final Project Report Research and Analysis Group August 2017 to November 2018 104 Fayetteville Street Sponsoring Agency Code Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 2009-08 Supplementary Notes: Abstract: In July 2018, the new Raleigh Union Station (RUS) opened for business in the Warehouse District of downtown Raleigh to address forecasted population growth and the operational need for expanded service capabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that railway platforms be easily accessible and usable for all individuals, including those with disabilities, with the stipulation that passenger platform gaps be a maximum of 3 inches (75mm). The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) needed to identify a platform gap filler product that meets ADA requirements and suitable for use at RUS. This project identifies the optimal platform gap filler solution for high platform rail stations in North Carolina and introduces a documentation process necessary to implement the recommended gap filler solution. After extensive research, the platform gap filler product developed by Delkor Rail was selected as the recommended product for RUS and other NC high platform rail stations. In addition to identifying the optimal platform gap filler solution for RUS and NC, the state’s first Gap Safety Management Plan was developed through this project. Ultimately, the results of this project will enable the NCDOT Rail Division to continue to grow the state’s rail system and to ensure that the system is safe and accessible for all passengers while also saving staff time and money. Key Words Distribution Statement Rail, Gap Filler, Safety, Accessibility, Multimodal, Performance Measurement Security Classif. (of this report) Security Classif. (of this page) No. of Pages Price Unclassified Unclassified 57 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized 4 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report Disclaimer The contents of this document reflect the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education or North Carolina State University. The authors are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the North Carolina Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration at the time of publication. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Acknowledgements The research team thanks the North Carolina Department of Transportation for supporting and funding this project. The research team is particularly grateful to the Steering and Implementation Committee members for the exceptional guidance and support they provided throughout this project. In particular, the research team is grateful for the leadership and support provided by NCDOT Rail Division Facilities Engineer Consultant Craig Newton throughout the project. In addition to the Steering and Implementation Committee, the research team would like to express special gratitude to Kyle Anderson, NCDOT Rail Operations Manager, who provided access to Capital Yard and was essential to the testing processes of this project. Special thanks also goes to John Kirby of NCDOT Research and Development, who continues to help guide the project along and offered assistance with meeting scheduling and contractual questions. Without the help of all the above individuals, the research team would not be able to be complete the project in a successful and timely manner. 5 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report Executive Summary Raleigh’s Cabarrus Street Amtrak Station is one of the busiest stations in the southeastern U.S. Each year, more than 160,000 passengers are served by the railway station. In July 2018, the new Raleigh Union Station (RUS) opened for business in the Warehouse District of downtown Raleigh to address forecasted population growth and the operational need for expanded service capabilities. RUS is one of several planned improvements to the railway corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte designed to increase railroad capacity, efficiency, and safety. The new facility is designed to be a multimodal hub that will provide increased transportation capacity for the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. As such, the design and operations of RUS must reflect the mobility needs of all transit riders that will be utilizing Amtrak services, including those with disabilities. Moreover, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that railway platforms be easily accessible and usable for all individuals, including those with disabilities, with the stipulation that passenger platform gaps be a maximum of 3 inches (75mm). Such gaps, which refer to the horizontal or vertical space between a rail car and the edge of the station platform, can create hazards for station users and can increase over time due to settling of the track and platform. Gap fillers, which can be mounted along the edge of a train platform to reduce the gap distance between the platform and the entrance of a passenger train, are considered the optimal solution for addressing the gap issue at RUS. Gap filling technology allows passengers to board and alight safely, increases the efficiency of boarding and alighting times, and eases wheelchair access on and off a train. In addition, gap fillers are more permanent solutions compared to bridge plates and require minimal maintenance. All of these benefits can help improve staff productivity and passenger independence. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) needed to identify a platform gap filler product that meets ADA requirements and suitable for use at RUS. Additionally, the NCDOT needed a solution that was applicable for other high platform stations within the NC rail system. This project identifies the optimal platform gap filler solution for high platform rail stations in North Carolina and introduces a documentation process necessary to implement the recommended gap filler solution. After extensive research, the platform gap filler product developed by Delkor Rail was selected as the recommended product for RUS and other NC high platform rail stations. An Australian company, Delkor Rail has a manufacturing facility in the United States and years of experience providing platform gap fillers for rail stations across the world. In addition to identifying the optimal platform gap filler solution for RUS and NC, the state’s first Gap Safety Management Plan was developed through this project. This plan, which aligns with FRA requirements, highlights hazards in the RUS platform area and documents how RUS partners will address these hazards in the future to support station safety. Ultimately, the results of this project will enable the NCDOT Rail Division to continue to grow the state’s rail system and to ensure that the system is safe and accessible for all passengers while also saving staff time and money. 6 NCDOT 2018-027 Project Report Table of Contents Technical Documentation Page ................................................................................... 3 Disclaimer .................................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 6 Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... 7 List of Exhibits ............................................................................................................ 8 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 9 2. Background ....................................................................................................... 10 2.1. Objectives...........................................................................................................