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Technical Memorandum on the Evaluation of Detectable Warning Systems

January 1994

Prepared By: Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority
Planning Department
305 S. Andrews Avenue Suite 200
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

INTRODUCTION

Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority (TCRA), an agency of the State of Florida, operates a 67 mile commuter railroad with fifteen (15) stations in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

The purpose of this technical Memorandum is to recommend the most suitable detectable warning/tactile system to be installed at all stations. A tactile warning system is a standardized surface feature built in or applied to walking surfaces or other elements to warn visually impaired people of hazards on a circulation path. More specifically, section 10.3.1(8) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), requires transportation facility platform edges bordering a drop-off and not protected by platform screens or guard rails shall have a detectable warning.

Such detectable warnings shall comply with 4.29.2 of the Law and shall be 24 inches wide running the full length of the platform drop-off. The surface, which incorporates small-truncated domes at closely spaced intervals, must be slip resistant and of a material that provides a contrast in resilience or in sound when sensed by a cane. The surface must also contrast visually with adjoining surfaces, either light on dark, or dark on light.

Once all trains and stations are accessible to persons with disabilities, including wheelchair users, use of the Tri-Rail system is attractive to the disabled community. And with the large percentage of elderly citizens in South Florida, TCRA is cognizant of the importance of detectable warning surfaces.

TCRA's ADA modification project, based primarily on the installation of detectable warning on platform edges, will commence with the selection of a suitable detectable warning surface. Completion of this project, targeted for the fall of 1994, will secure TCRA's position as a model for an accessible transit system.

IMPLEMENTATION

  1. TCRA Actions:

    In response to the ADA requirements discussed previously, TCRA began the planning process by identifying the site requirements, and the suitable products. In coordination with the local advocacy groups, TCRA prepared a Key Station Plan Report for the installation of the tactile systems, and submitted it to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in June 1992.

    Implementation of the tactile warning systems have been delayed all across the country due to the ongoing development of new products, and the required field laboratory testing. Not until recently information has been readily available on various products to enable TCRA to conduct it's own evaluation and recommend a product for installation.

    The selected product will also be installed on the Amtrak platforms at all joint use stations. This will ensure passenger safety, and facilitate system continuity.

    TCRA has developed construction drawings for the installation of the tactile warning system. The construction documents are currently in the final stages of design, pending the approval of the recommended product.
  2. Public Hearing

    Public participation is a key element of TCRA planning process. TCRA held a public Hearing work shop on December 1, 1993 to inform the local community of it's plans for the installation of the tactile warning systems at the rail stations. ADA requirements and implications were also discussed in the meeting.

    The meeting was advertised in the local newspapers, and then it was held in the Broward County Government Building. All tactile products were displayed, and a sample survey sheet was distributed for comments.

    Further, TCRA meets monthly with the "Advisory Committee for Disabled Persons", that is an open forum for any individual to express their needs.

PRODUCT TESTING  

Independent laboratory testing is currently being performed on tactile products. The Volpe Center, a research division of the Department of Transportation, is the project manager. They have contracted with a private consultant firm, Technology & Management Systems, Inc. (TMS), to perform testing on detectable warnings/tactile products. TMS is testing eighteen products.

The testing is in two parts, laboratory tests and field tests. The lab tests have been sub-contracted to Dr. Leslie Sandor, West Chester, PA. These lab tests are complete and should be ready for FTA release in the early part of 1994. The Volpe Center has chosen 3 sites for field tests: Cleveland, Boston, and Philadelphia. The field tests were started in early November 1993, and will not be completed until May 1994.

The project completion date of this testing will fall outside the FTA installation deadline. Therefore, TCRA may be unable to utilize the new information selecting the preferred tactile system.

Independent testing has been performed by Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). Other transit agencies also performed testing on tactile products. METRA in Chicago hired the firm of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) to conduct testing, which was completed in July 1993. Metro-North in New York and its' sister agencies in the New York Metropolitan area have hired Weintraub & di Domenico in association with Wollmer Associates, who sub-contracted their laboratory tests also to Dr. Leslie Sandor. The lab tests and report were completed in November 1993.

CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATION

The products considered represent a whole spectrum of different materials manufactured by a number of companies. The matrix includes; composite plastics, applied surfaces (concrete), ceramics, metal and rubber surfaces.

The criteria used for ranking purposes were derived from; TCRA requirements, Public Hearing, and from independent testing. They all used similar criteria to evaluate the products.

TCRA rated the products based on; careful review of material specifications, testing results, discussions with other transit agencies, and TCRA requirements.

Table 2, depicts the results of the study conducted. Armor-Tile, one of the composite plastics tested rated the highest. This product is best suited for TCRA purposes due to the following.
  1. Flexibility in new construction, and retrofitting. Short curing period. Least disruption to the rail operation.
  2. Good slip resistance. Superior burn resistance.
  3. Good visual impact.
  4. Material compatibility with Metro-Dade Transit. Being utilized by other major commuter rail agencies. Proven Product.
  5. Recommended by Independent laboratory testing.
  6. Material and installation costs are reasonable.

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