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Public Hearing on Equivalent Facilitation
Jan. 19, 2011
TriMet is seeking to renew its finding of equivalent facilitation from the Federal Transit Administration on the bridge plate design for the light rail vehicles. Bridge plates are an extension of the light rail vehicle and provide a ramp between the light rail vehicle and the adjacent platform. Bridge plates help with level boarding. A finding of equivalent facilitation means the proposed design or technology provides substantially equal or greater benefit to the user.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Request for a finding of equivalent facilitation
Low floor light rail vehicles equipped with bridge
plates for level boarding
Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project
Columbia River Crossing Project
Notice is hereby given that the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) will hold a public hearing regarding its intent to request a finding of equivalent facilitation for the bridge plates of its new low floor light rail vehicles. The public hearing will be held at the following time and location:
January 19, 2011
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Portland Building
1120 SW Fifth Avenue
Room C (second floor)
TriMet is taking public comments in accordance with 49 CFR 37.7 regarding its intent to request a finding of equivalent facilitation (an alternative design or technology which provides substantially equivalent or greater access) for an alternate method of compliance with 49 CFR 38.83(c)(4), which requires each side of a light rail vehicle bridge plate to have barriers at least two inches high. In 1994, the Federal Transit Administration issued a finding of equivalent facilitation allowing all bridge plates on TriMet light rail vehicles to be designed and constructed without side barriers. TriMet intends to request that it be allowed to continue constructing bridge plates without side barriers. Any interested party may appear at the hearing and present public comments on this issue.
Written testimony and comments regarding the draft request can also be submitted by Sunday, January 23, 2011. Please submit to:
Chris Novotny
Columbia River Crossing Project
700 Washington St # 300
Vancouver, WA 98660
Persons who need sign language interpretation or other communication aids should contact TriMet Community Affairs 503-962-2150,
TTY 503-962-8058.
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