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Commuter Rail Accessibility And "Key Stations"

Background
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has specific provisions for accessibility of rail transit. In 1992, NJ TRANSIT finalized a plan to make existing commuter rail stations and the Newark Light Rail accessible to persons with disabilities in compliance with the Act (newly constructed stations must be ADA-compliant). The plan included a list of "key stations," that is, stations whose ridership and geographic characteristics (among others) suggest that action to improve their accessibility should be given a priority. Normally, accessibility at commuter rail stations means construction of high-level platforms and elevators or ramps to access those platforms. The Newark Light Rail has been equipped with new, 70 percent low-floor light rail vehicles. Accessibility at these stations will be provided with construction of platforms that are the same level as the interior floor of the new cars.

Project Scope
NJ TRANSIT evaluated all commuter rail and Newark Light Rail stations using a variety of criteria including ridership, geographic location, and use characteristics (e.g., does the station serve as a transfer point between lines or is the station a major activity center serving offices, health care facilities, colleges, etc.). Based on these specifications and other more subjective evaluations by the task force developing the plan, 35 commuter rail stations and three Newark Light Rail stations were selected as "key stations." These stations represented 73 percent of the total commuter rail system ridership at the time of the evaluation and 46 percent of Newark Light Rail ridership. With the plan in hand, NJ TRANSIT went about implementing improvements to the key stations in earnest. As of February 2005, Accessibility Improvements have been completed at 33 key stations. Of the remaining five stations, two stations are in the design/planning phase (Somerville and Ridgewood), two are being advertised for construction (Newark Broad Street and Madison), and Newark Penn Station (City Subway) is underway.

Project Benefits
Implementation of NJ TRANSIT's Commuter Rail Accessibility Plan will provide safer, faster and more convenient access to rail transit for our customers with disabilities.

NJ TRANSIT Department of Capital Planning and Programs
January 2006

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