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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Consumer Protection and Safety Division

Rail Transit Safety Section

    Resolution ST-100

    November 6, 2008

RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION ST-100 GRANTING LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) A TEMPORARY VARIANCE FROM GENERAL ORDER 143-B, SECTION 9.06 c (1) CLEARANCES.

SUMMARY

This resolution grants Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) request for a six month variance to General Order (GO) 143-B, Section No. 9.06 c (1) Side Clearance requirements for the Pasadena Gold Line (PGL) station platforms. This resolution allows LACMTA to install Between-Car-Barriers (BCB) on the station platform edges as a six-month demonstration project designed to determine the safety of a platform based BCB system for PGL.

The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.) and the Federal Transit Administration (49 CFR Parts 38.63 & 38.85) require transit agencies to take steps to ensure that visually impaired patrons do not fall from the elevated platform to the trackway below in the space between the light rail vehicles of a train. The resolution requires that LACMTA provide a report to Rail Transit and Crossing Branch staff (staff) on the effectiveness and safety impacts of the BCB demonstration project. LACMTA may subsequently request a permanent variance for the BCBs if the demonstration project proves them to be safe and effective.

BACKGROUND

By a letter dated August 7, 2008, LACMTA requested a six month variance to GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1) to allow it to conduct a demonstration project designed to provide the transit agency with results of the BCB testing program to determine the program's safety. The letter requests a variance, specifically for the PGL station platforms, from the minimum thirty (30) inch side clearance requirements for the installation of the BCBs.

Title 49 CFR Pt. 38.85 provides in pertinent part:

LACMTA intends to install the BCB at the edge of the station platforms so as to prevent patrons from falling from the elevated platform between the cars at station stops.

GO 143-B, Safety Rules and Regulations Governing Light Rail Transit, Section 9.06 states:

DISCUSSION

LACMTA rail operations consist of the LACMTA Red, Blue, Green, and Gold Lines. The LACMTA rail system carries an average of 310,000 passengers per day. LACMTA is proposing to install BCB at the PGL light rail stations to conduct a six month demonstration project to test the safety of BCBs in preventing patrons from falling from platforms to the trackway below at spaces between the trains vehicles at the edge of the PGL station platforms. The proposed BCBs will obstruct the 30-inch side clearance required by Section 9.06 (c) (1) of GO 143-B.

LACMTA's request letter, dated August 7, 2008, specified that the demonstration project will include temporary changes to LACMTA's operating procedures for the PGL in addition to the installation of flexible platform based safety delineators or bollards. The proposed project includes the following elements:

The area intended to be protected by the proposed new BCB design is a standardized car-length common to all existing PGL LRV models, i.e.,

Procedures for platform berthing shall be modified to have trains berth at a specified location at the far end of every platform except at the terminals:

A Hazardous Analysis Report including the following elements shall be developed and shared with staff:

Staff shall review and provide comments on LACMTA's test procedure and results during the demonstration project. Upon the successful completion of the project, LACMTA may subsequently, as appropriate, request the variance be made permanent system wide station platforms.

LACMTA presented the BCB design to staff during a meeting on July 9, 2008. Staff evaluated the design and raised several operations and safety issues during the meeting. Subsequently, in a letter to LACMTA dated July 16, 2008, staff outlined those concerns and requested LACMTA supply additional information. LACMTA responded to staff's safety concerns in the letter requesting the variance dated August 7, 2008, and has indicated that it will address staff's operations and safety concerns. LACMTA has agreed to supply staff with the requested additional information prior to implementation of its BCB demonstration project.

Staff has reviewed LACMTA's request and believes that granting the temporary variance will not have an adverse effect on system safety. Staff suggests that the resolution should be granted with the following conditions:

1. The variance shall be temporary for a limited period of six (6) months;

2. During this six-month test/demonstration period, LACMTA shall install two (2) sets BCB units longitudinally at the edge of each PGL rail station platform. The location of the BCBs will be based on the PGL standard 2-car train's standard berthing location. The BCB shall be installed in the open area between the anti-climbers on the 1st and 2nd cars of the train;

3. During the six-month test/demonstration period, LACMTA shall continue to research BCB alternative designs that do not encroach or infringe on GO143-B clearance requirements. Alternative designs should include Car-borne BCB designs and other designs that allow for 30-inch dynamic envelope clearance. LACMTA shall submit a report to staff detailing the alternatives studied and justifying its preferred solution; and

4. Prior to installing any BCBs, LACMTA shall submit a BCB test procedure for staff approval that, at a minimum, include:

5. The following observations shall be included as part of the test, which shall be recorded on data sheets:

6. Within 30 days after the test, LACMTA shall provide a report to staff on the effectiveness and safety impacts of the BCB Demonstration Project.

NOTICE

On September 12, 2008 LACMTA's exemption request was published on the Commission's Daily Calendar.

PROTESTS

The notice was published in the Daily Calendar until October 16, 2008. On October 14, 2008, staff received a protest on behalf of Christopher Gray, an outside public party. The concerns referenced in the protest were reviewed and addressed by staff and LACMTA. No revisions were made to this resolution in response to the protest.

COMMENTS

This is an uncontested matter in which the resolution grants the relief requested. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 311(g) (2) of the Public Utilities Code and Rule 14.6(c) (2) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, the otherwise applicable 30-day period for public review and comment is waived.

FINDINGS

1. LACMTA proposes to temporarily install BCBs along the Pasadena Gold Line light rail station platforms in an attempt to comply with Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.) requirements imposed on transit systems under 49 CFR 38.85.

2. LACMTA contends that its BCBs will significantly mitigate the hazard for visually impaired patrons of falling off the station platform in the space between two PGL LRVs in a train.

3. By a letter dated August 7, 2008, LACMTA requests a six-month variance to the 30-inch side clearance requirement of GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1) to conduct a demonstration project to determine the safety and efficacy of a platform based BCB system for PGL.

4. Staff will have input into and will evaluate the BCBs during this testing/demonstration period.

5. LACMTA will submit additional information to staff as staff requests, including BCB Maintenance plans, Light Rail Operations Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updates, Gold Line BCB Training, Gold Line Berthing Performance Report, CCTV Observation, BCB designs and alternative BCB design reports.

6. LACMTA presented the BCB design to staff during a meeting on July 9, 2008. Staff evaluated the design and raised several operations and safety issues during the meeting. In its letter dated July 16, 2008, staff requested additional information on those matters. LACMTA responded to staff's request in their letter dated August 7, 2008, and indicated that LACMTA will provide the additional information requested by staff before commencement of the BCB testing/demonstration project.

7. During the public comment period, staff received a protest from an outside public party. The protest concerns were reviewed and addressed. No revisions were made to this resolution in response to the protest.

8. Granting the temporary variance for a six-month period will not have a significant adverse effect on system safety.

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

1. LACMTA's request, dated August 7, 2008, for a six-month variance to General Order (GO) 143-B, Section No. 9.06 c (1) Side Clearance requirements at Pasadena Gold Line (PGL) station platforms for the installation of Between-Car-Barrier (BCB) units is granted as part of a demonstration project to test the safety and efficacy of BCBs designed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.) and 49 CFR Pt. 38.85.

2. The purpose of the BCB demonstration project shall be to prevent visually impaired patrons from falling from the elevated station platforms into the gap between PGL Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs).

3. This variance shall be effective for six (6) months from today.

4. LACMTA shall install two (2) sets of BCB units longitudinally at the edge of each PGL light rail station. The BCBs shall be placed at a 2-car train's standard berthing location such that the BCB unit will be installed in the open area between the anti-climbers on the 1st and 2nd cars.

5. LACMTA shall continue to research BCB alternative designs that do not encroach or infringe on GO-143B clearance requirements. Designs should include Car-borne BCB designs and other designs that allow for a 30-inch dynamic envelope clearance.

6. Prior to installing any BCBs, LACMTA shall submit a BCB test procedure for staff approval that, at a minimum, shall include:

7. The following observations shall be included as part of the test, which will be recorded on data sheets:

8. Within 30 days after the demonstration project ends, LACMTA shall provide a report to staff on the effectiveness and safety impacts of the BCB test. The report shall include an analysis of alternatives to the platform mounted BCB within the GO143-B clearance envelope, as noted in No. 5, above.

9. If at any time during the BCB demonstration project, staff determines that BCBs pose a significant safety hazard, LACMTA shall immediately comply with staff's directions concerning individual BCBs or the entire BCB project.

I certify that this resolution was adopted by the Public Utilities Commission at its regular meeting held on November 6, 2008. The following Commissioners voting favorably thereon:

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