Section 1017.8. Wheelchair accessible vehicle taxicab specifications

(a) Basic requirements. Wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) taxicabs must be in compliance with the requirements applicable to taxicabs, except when deviations are authorized or required by the act, this part or an order of the Authority.

(b) Standard specifications for WAV taxicabs. In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), a WAV taxicab is a vehicle that has been inspected and approved by the Enforcement Department to meeting the following requirements:

(1) The vehicle complies with the specifications in the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Specifications for Transportation Vehicles codified in 49 CFR 38.23, 38.25 and 38.31 (relating to mobility aid accessibility; doors, steps and thresholds; and lighting) and higher standards set by the act, this part or an order of the Authority. For example, if the Authority required vehicle lift platforms to have provisions to prevent deployment, falling or folding any faster than 10 inches per second, that requirement would supersede the 12 inches per second requirement of 49 CFR 38.23(b).

(2) The vehicle must be capable of transporting at least one passenger seated in a common wheelchair secured to the vehicle by a system approved by the Authority as provided in paragraph (11) with access and entry to the passenger compartment either from the right side of the vehicle to and from the curb or through rear entry.

(3) If modified to become a WAV taxicab, the modification of the vehicle shall be completed under the vehicle manufacturer’s standards. The Authority will publish a list of approved vehicle modification entities on its web site at www.philapark.org/tld.

(4) The owner of a vehicle modified to be a WAV taxicab shall, upon presentation for a preservice inspection as provided in § 1017.2 (relating to preservice inspection), provide the certification of an engineer with at least a bachelor’s degree in either mechanical engineering or electrical engineering with at least 3 years of experience in automotive manufacturing that the vehicle has been modified using the design tested to meet or exceed impact protection requirements as provided in 49 CFR Part 571 (relating to Federal motor vehicle safety standards) and the specifications of the vehicle’s manufacturer.

(5) When loaded to gross vehicle weight rating, the distance between the ground and the vehicle’s frame must be 5 inches or more.

(6) The vehicle’s passenger compartment length from the back of the passenger’s seats to any barrier in front of it must be 56 inches or more.

(7) The floor of a WAV taxicab may be lowered only from the base of the firewall to the area immediately in front of the rear axle.

(8) The floor of a WAV taxicab with a lowered floor assembly must be stainless steel (16 gauge minimum). A vapor-insulating barrier of 1/2-inch marine grade plywood must be applied over the lowered metal floor and thoroughly secured.

(9) The vehicle’s wheelchair ramp may not block any part of the door or glass while in the stowed position.

(10) The entry point of the vehicle must measure 56 inches from the ramp to the top of the entry point.

(11) The Authority will maintain a list of wheelchair restraint systems to be used to securely hold one or more wheelchairs in place in the vehicle while in operation. The list of approved wheelchair restraint systems may be obtained from the Authority’s web site at www.philapark.org/tld.

(12) Anchor points may not project more than 1/8 inch above the vehicle’s finished floor.

(13) If the vehicle has a middle fold-up passenger seat, it must have a folding mechanism and base plate and meet the requirements of 49 CFR 571.207 (relating to standard No. 207; seating systems).

(14) Modifications to the rear air conditioning must be completed in a manner consistent with the guidelines of the vehicle’s manufacturer.

(15) Electrical wiring installed while modifying the vehicle to meet the requirements of this section must be PVC or better, insulated and color-coded for positive identification.

(16) The vehicle must have an electrically operated back-up alarm device that produces an intermittent audible signal when the vehicle’s transmission is shifted into reverse.

(17) The vehicle must display the universal logo for wheelchairs as a marking of at least 6 inches high and 6 inches wide on the rear of the vehicle and on each side of the vehicle.

(c) Age and mileage limitation.

(1) When a vehicle is proposed for WAV medallion taxicab service, it must be one of the manufacturer’s two latest vehicle model years with an odometer reading of less than 500 miles to qualify for inspection as provided in § 1017.2.

(2) A WAV medallion taxicab will not be eligible for inspection as provided in § 1017.31 (relating to biannual inspections by Authority) upon reaching 5 years of age.

(d) Current vehicles. Taxicabs authorized by the Authority on August 30, 2014, that are capable of providing taxicab service to a person in a wheelchair without the need for the person to exit the wheelchair are exempt from the requirements of subsections (b) and (c). The exemption provided in this subsection expires when the exempted vehicle is removed from taxicab service and does not run with the associated medallion or certificate of public convenience.

The provisions of this § 1017.8 adopted August 29, 2014, effective August 30, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 5662.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 1011.2 (relating to definitions).