| Author |
Message |
    
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 9:41 am: |     |
Is there any way the platforms (especially the eastbound platform) can be raised a bit? With the track banking as it does, you have to be in pretty good shape to get up to that first step. My mom is 77 years old and her husband is 90. When they come to visit us they have to go to Millburn because they can't hoist themselves up to the train in Maplewood. |
maplehound
Citizen
Username: Maplehound
Post Number: 21
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 11:43 am: | |
I have been wondering this as well. I have recently become handicapped and am unable to use the train at all. I think in Hoboken there is a special lift for those who need assistance. Is there any possibility of aquiring one for Maplewood? |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 545
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 12:59 pm: | |
I think they are currently doing work in SO to make the station accessible, including an elevator so I assume there will be some way for people to get on the trains once they are on the platform. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 481
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 2:27 pm: | |
I too have a physical disability that makes getting from the eastbound platform up into the train difficult. The curve of the tracks that run along the Maplewood train station cause the train to list away from the boarding platform. However, don't expect this to be corrected anytime soon, since the amount of work to straighten (flatten) it out is prohibitive. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 482
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 2:30 pm: | |
PS: I had actually contacted NJT a few years ago about this particular problem. |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 3:56 pm: | |
I wasn't suggesting they try to level the track; obviously that would be a very expensive and difficult proposition (in fact I doubt it's possible - the tracks are banked for turns for a reason). A simpler solution would be to raise the platform. I'm surprised there isn't more outcry about it. |
maplehound
Citizen
Username: Maplehound
Post Number: 22
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 4:08 pm: | |
Us2innj:
May I ask if you got a response from NJT?
I have decided to write to them about the situation. I too am surprised that there has been no outcry about it. |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 4:15 pm: | |
Well if you do, be sure and give me credit, LOL. |
us2innj
Citizen
Username: Us2innj
Post Number: 484
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 4:59 pm: | |
Maplehound,
No, I never heard back from their representative. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1239
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 5:18 pm: | |
If a physically disabled passenger can't handle the stairs leading on to the train in the morning (even with the assistance of the train crew), how is such a passenger going to get back to the street from the west bound platform in the afternoon?
The entire station has to be re-engineered to make the station ADA compliant.
Does anyone know if NJT is subject to ADA?
|
maplehound
Citizen
Username: Maplehound
Post Number: 23
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 8:28 am: | |
Joan,
You are correct about that, however I was thinking that in my particular case, I might be able to make it up and down the tunnel stairs. They are not as nearly as steep as the train stairs and unlike the rush of the train, I could take them at my own pace. (Verrrry Sloooowly)
Perhaps I am wrong, but I think I remember something about the platform construction a while back being a problem for NJT because if they renovated at all, they might be subject to ADA regulations. Unfortunately, there must have been some way around that.
Does anyone else have any information about the South Orange renovation? |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 548
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 8:41 am: | |
There is more info on the SO project here: http://www.njtransit.com/ta_construction_project.jsp?ID=303
Looks major, won't be done till the end of next year. It says they are building "mini high level platforms" which I assume are ramps and platforms that will allow people to board w/o stairs. They are also putting in elevators. |
maplehound
Citizen
Username: Maplehound
Post Number: 24
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 9:30 am: | |
Thank you so much Ashear! It looks like it will be great and it is certainly a necessity for many of our neighbors. The sooner the better.
|
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 60
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 1, 2003 - 11:51 am: | |
Joan - The same angle that lifts the inbound stairs eastbound in the morning lowers the stairs westbound so that the train kind of "pours" you off down the stairs in the afternoon.
Although it seems to not be as much a problem, I have wondered how safe the westbound exiting problem is for people whose reactions may be slow, or otherwise impaired. They could easily fall down the stairs onto the platform. Lowering the level of the platform would not address the problem of the track tilt. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1248
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 1, 2003 - 12:11 pm: | |
Maplehound:
I have been giving your problem some thought. The best solution I can come up with short term is to suggest that you consider boarding and exiting the train in Summit. Summit Train Station is not too far from here. I have been told by train crew on the Dover line that it is one of the rare NJT stations on our line where the platform is level with the cars. No stairs to enter/leave the train and the middle doors will even open. It has the additional advantage of additional train service to Hoboken (including more express service) and there is a better chance of getting a seat on crowded rush hour trains to Penn Station, NY.
Another short term possibility is to take an NJT bus to Newark, Penn Station (NJT's literature states that they will make every effort to provide kneeling buses on request to aid disabled passengers in boarding and leaving the bus). Though these buses are generally full to bursting upon arrival at Penn Station, you should have no problem getting a seat at the Maplewood end. It is also possible to get a seat from Penn Station going home. Again you can request a kneeling bus in advance if boarding is a problem. From Penn Station, Newark, you can get an NJT train to Penn Station, NY or connect with the PATH train. Newark, Penn Station is supposed to be ADA compliant and the PATH at least does not require use of stairs to board or exit. I'm not sure about the NJT train.
Hope this helps.
Joan |
maplehound
Citizen
Username: Maplehound
Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 1, 2003 - 3:46 pm: | |
Joan,
I am going to try both of your suggestions and see what works best. As a backup plan, my husband will drive me in the morning and I will take a car service home at night. Thanks so much for your input.
Maplehound
|
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 580
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 1, 2003 - 8:19 pm: | |
There are also elevators to the platforms in Summit. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 549
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 2, 2003 - 8:52 am: | |
One word of warning on Summit. The platforms are raised and there are elevators but the elevators, at least 3 years ago when I used the station, seemed to be broken a lot of the time. You might want to get the number of the ticket office in Summit so you can check with them on the elevator status. (Though even if they are not working its just one set of stairs as opposed to the two at Mwood.) As I recall, on the westbound platform it is also possible to walk up to the street with no stairs via the small NJT lot toward the back of the train. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 451
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 9, 2003 - 5:02 pm: | |
I was recently informed of how disabled unfriendly the train is in Maplewood - trying to get my partially disabled mother on and off the train and then down the stairs from the center the track, was almost impossible. Isn't it time to fully include the handicapped and disabled in our town of inclusion and diversity?
Jerry, Vic, Fred, Ian, David? Any ideas? |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1295
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 6:31 am: | |
I can't imagine a solution to the center/westbound tracks problem that isn't hideously expensive, but it's not like I have experience with this. Has anyone else seen a solution to such a problem? |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1279
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 5:15 pm: | |
We would need an elevator from the center platform to the street level for starters. If the elevator were placed at the Baker Street end of the platform and linked to the underpass, it should be possible to replace the shallow steps at either end of the underpass with ramps.
This would not address the problem of getting on and off the trains themselves but it would be a start. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 444
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 5:52 pm: | |
Just imagine trying to get to the center track with 2 toddlers and a double stroller. (And just one adult.) NOT EASY! Then of course once you're there, sweaty and all, the announcement that the train is 20 minutes behind schedule. AND THEN, ten minutes later, "mommy, I need to go to the BAAATHROOOOM!" I always wondered how a person with a physical disability could possibly do it. |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1298
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 6:22 pm: | |
If the eventual goal is to deal with people in wheelchairs then the elevator won't accomplish much. You'd need a platform at floor-level with the trains, like in Summit and Penn Station. At that point we're talking multi-zillion dollar project. But at least after we've built the far larger train station to accomodate all this we can put a cell on top of it. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 558
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 7:30 pm: | |
LSeltzer, take a look at the link I provided above re the work they are doing in South Orange. They are building mini-high-level platforms. It seems like there is a simlar project in East Orange which would provide people with disabilities with three options between Summit and Newark to get on the trains. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1284
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 - 4:30 pm: | |
You wouldn't have to raise the entire platform. All that would be needed is a single elevated access ramp on each platform leading to the middle door (which could be openned on demand)of a car with handicapped seating available. A similar ramp would be needed at each platform at Hoboken where trains carrying handicapped passengers disembark but no such accomodation would be needed at Penn Station. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 454
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 10:56 am: | |
I wonder if there are any State Funds or Grants available for projects like this? TC are you out there? |
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