Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SB-46. Current Practices for Evacuating Persons with Cognitive and Physical Disabilities from Transit Vehicles

Currently, when faced with evacuating persons with cognitive and physical disabilities from transit vehicles, such as buses, light rail vehicles, commuter rail vehicles or cutaways, there is no recent standard guidance for agencies to utilize that provides a safe and effective response. The latest guidance from the FTA was published in May 1997, and there have been significant changes in technology and transit operations since then. As a result, many agencies do not have standard guidance, policies, or procedures on how they evacuate persons with cognitive or physical disabilities from their vehicles or rolling stock. Developing such policies is difficult without understanding the myriads of issues that intersect within the operational, safety, engineering, public safety, and accessibility considerations. In the absence of updated and comprehensive guidance, transit agencies often depend on first responders—who themselves may not have consistent protocols for assisting individuals with differing cognitive and physical needs. This gap frequently results in ad hoc evacuation efforts that fail to fully address individual needs. Without specific guidance transit agencies face challenges implementing the Whole Community Approach to emergency management, which requires that all the needs of the community be considered when developing or updating emergency response plans. While agencies should be working with their local disability community, and many are, guidance on some of the technical approaches is only available through consultations with experts that transit agencies may not have access to for budgetary or other reasons. The objective of this synthesis will be to document: (1) Current strategies and practices for developing, maintaining, and training personnel (transit employees and first responders) on safe and effective ways to provide evacuation assistance to persons with cognitive and physical disabilities in situations where evacuation from transit vehicles or rolling stock is required. (2) What resources and equipment transit agencies use to support safe evacuation, staff training processes, and effective passenger communication. (3) Any available guidance or standards for transit agencies on empowering persons with cognitive and physical disabilities to evacuate with appropriate levels of assistance and equipping transit agency staff to provide compassionate and dignifying support to persons requiring it during an emergency on a transit vehicle.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5931
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $75,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project J-07, Topic SB-46

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Griswold, Emily

• Start Date: 20250508
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Emergency management; Evacuation; Passenger cars; Persons with disabilities
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01960819
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project J-07, Topic SB-46
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 16 2025 2:08PM