beyond the USA: a Closer Look at Japan Svetlana, GRECHKA Sr. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Accessibility Requirements beyond the USA: a Closer Look at Japan

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

Outline

• Part 1: Guidelines and Standards
• Guidelines to Improve Barrier-Free Access for Public Transport Passenger

Facility, Japan

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design, USA
• Part 2: Station Elements
• A closer look at guidelines and standards
• Part 3: Conclusion
• What we have in common

2 Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

Accessibility Guidelines and Standards

• Accessible Guidelines to Improve Barrier-Free Access for Public

Transport Passenger Facility, Japan

• Championed by Transport Accessibility Improvements Law in 2000
• Based on 1983 “Guidelines on the Construction and Improvements of

Facilities for the Aged, the Physically Handicapped, and the Like at Public Transportation Terminals”

• ADA Standards for Accessible Design, USA
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990
• 1st version of the ADA Standards was adopted in 1991
• Evolving document

3 Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements

• Path of travel:
• Clearances
• Guide blocks and

detectable warning

• Vertical conveyance
• Elevators
• Stairs
• Lighting
• Braille Signs

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Path of Travel, Image Source: www.ada.gov

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements: Clearances

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• ADA standards, USA:
• Vertical clearance 80 inches (203 cm) minimum and 27 inches (69 cm)

maximum above finished grade

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

International forum, Tokyo, Japan Wadsworth station, Denver, USA

ADA compliant station elements: Guide Blocks and Detectable Warning

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• Barrier-free guidelines, Japan:
• Guide blocks to direct people to

stairways, ticket vending machines, stations

• ADA Standards, USA:
• Detectable warning along full length
• f platform

Detectable warning

Image: Denver Union Station

Guide blocks

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements: vertical conveyance - elevators

• Barrier-free guidelines, Japan :
• 140 cm (55 inches) x 135 cm

(53 inches) minimum

• Able to accommodate at least 11

persons

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• ADA standards, USA:
• 68 inches (172 cm) x 51 inches

(130 cm) minimum

• Able to accommodate ambulance

stretcher

Elevator to accommodate stretcher, USA

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements: vertical conveyance – handrails at stairs

• Barrier-free guidelines, Japan :
• A staircase should be provided

with a double handrail on each side

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• ADA standards, USA:
• Handrails shall be provided on

both sides of stairs and ramps

Image: Broomfield Pedestrian Bridge

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements: lighting

9

• Barrier-free guidelines, Japan:
• Lighting and illumination for a

concourse or pathway should be bright enough for elderly persons, the physically impaired, the pregnant, and all other persons to go through it smoothly.

• ADA standards, USA:
• Illumination at elevator landing shall

be 5 foot candle (54 lux) minimum

Illumination level at elevator landing

Image: Lakewood ● Wadsworth Station

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

ADA compliant station elements: Braille signs

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• Barrier-free guidelines, Japan:
• Handrail slope destination should

be written in Braille and accompanied by its decoded version

• ADA standards, USA:
• At least one station name Braille sign

shall be placed in uniform location

• Braille sign shall be located 48 inches

(1220 mm) minimum above surface

48”(1220mm)

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

Commonalities between Japan and USA

• Accessible transit facilities help individuals with disabilities to live independently

within their communities by providing an access to public transportation

• Transportation allows individuals with disabilities to be valuable members of our

society as individuals, workers, consumers, and taxpayers

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Japan USA

Providing Ways to Increase Independence

Svetlana, GRECHKA

• Sr. Engineer, Denver Regional Transportation District, USA

Wednesday, 8th July, 2015, Session: 5E - Accessibility & Intermodality -

...Thank you

for your kind attention