Accessible transit stop design is based on three key elements: barrier-free design, wayfinding to help passengers reach the stop, and safety. These elements take into account the needs of all potential transit users, not just people with physical disabilities. This brief article provides an overview of the federal accessibility standards that must be met when constructing bus stops and the guidelines that improve accessibility above Americans with Disabilities Act minimum requirements. Let’s get started by taking a look at the standards and guidelines and then move on to how these requirements are implemented to construct transit stops that are both functional and pleasant for transit passengers.

Defining Guidelines

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is where it all begins. U.S. Department of Transportation ADA requirements related to public transportation services, including bus stops and stations, are the minimum standards that must be met to comply with federal law. ADA requirements pertain to surfaces, clearances from curbs and roadways, cross slopes, and accessible connections to streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths. The U.S. Access Board publishes ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). The guidelines can be used to implement the ADA requirements related to design and construction. The Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) are currently in draft form and address pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb ramps, street furnishings (e.g, benches), pedestrian signals, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way.

Accessible design means that a transit system has complied with ADA laws, regulations, and state or local building codes. Once the ADA requirements are met, then universal design (UD) should be considered. UD provides a higher level of access for people with disabilities but also accommodates the needs of everyone — children, older adults, women, and men. Classic examples of the general population benefiting from UD include a parent pushing a baby stroller or a traveler using a curb ramp while pulling luggage. The Toolkit for the Assessment of Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety provides examples of how minimum requirements are met and how UD can be considered for the various aspects of transit stops, such as boarding areas, shelters, and lighting.

Accessibility Elements

Once compliance requirements are understood, it’s time to incorporate the three elements of good design. Barrier-free design means that a person should be able to reach a stop unimpeded. Outdoor elements (e.g., utility poles, signage, and newspaper boxes) should not cause obstructions. Grade-level changes between sidewalks and stop platforms should be avoided when possible. Surfaces should be slip-resistant, and seating should be available. Stop features should take the local climate into consideration, protecting against intense sun, rain, wind, or snow.

Wayfinding involves personal interaction with one’s environment. It helps people determine their location, their destination, and helps them develop a plan for traveling from point A to point B. Wayfinding can include signage, tactile cues and landmarks (e.g., landscaping, contrast colors, garbage & recycling containers, street art), sound, and light. Wayfinding improves safety around bus stops and also provides logical orientation from pedestrian pathways to bus boarding and alighting areas.   

Safety and Warning aspects are important to transit riders of all ages and genders. Bus stops should have good ergonomics and wayfinding elements. Benches, vending boxes, and planters should not impede movement or block views. Good lighting and visibility are essential for passengers, bus drivers, and nearby pedestrians. Any existing hazards should be designated with markings, signs, or higher lighting levels. Shrubbery and trees should be trimmed for both horizontal and vertical clearance. Advertising should not block a rider’s view of oncoming traffic.

Conducting an assessment of your existing stops, identifying needed improvements, designing a consistent look-and-feel for your system of stops and shelters, budgeting, and developing an implementation plan are other important steps in the process toward more accessible public transportation.

Conclusion

The elements discussed here are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to planning for accessible bus stops. Conducting an assessment of your existing stops, identifying needed improvements, designing a consistent look-and-feel for your system of stops and shelters, budgeting, and developing an implementation plan are other important steps in the process toward more accessible public transportation. To learn more, the following resources are recent publications and toolkits for transportation professionals:

• APTA Recommended Practice Guide: Bus Rapid Transit Stations and Stops

• Effective Snow Removal for Pathways and Transit Stops

• TCRP Synthesis Report 117: Better On-Street Bus Stops

• Toolkit for the Assessment of Bus Stop Accessibility and Safety 

Rachel Beyerle is the communications director for Easterseals Project Action Consulting.