6.2 Passenger Loading Zones, Bus Stops, and Rail Platforms
Key Takeaways
Where loading zones are provided, one accessible passenger loading zone is required in every continuous 100 linear feet of loading zone space (IBC 1106.9.1).
A loading zone is required at an accessible entrance to licensed medical and long-term care facilities where the stay exceeds 24 hours, at valet parking, and at mechanical access parking garage drop-off and pick-up areas.
The vehicle pull-up space is 96 inches wide and 20 feet long, with an access aisle 67 inches wide in new buildings (60 inches existing), full length, at the same level.
Loading zones, their access aisles and the vehicular routes to and from them need 114 inches of vertical clearance (A117.1 503.5).
New bus boarding and alighting areas are 100 inches long perpendicular to the curb by 60 inches wide (96 x 60 existing), with a 1:48 maximum slope perpendicular to the roadway.
6.2 Passenger Loading Zones, Bus Stops, and Rail Platforms
Passenger loading zones serve people who are dropped off by car, van, paratransit or taxi. The IBC decides when one is required (1106.9), and A117.1 Section 503 sets the dimensions. Bus stops and rail platforms follow A117.1 Section 805.
Scoping (IBC 1106.9)
| Section | Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1106.9 | Any passenger loading zone | Must be accessible |
| 1106.9.1 | Continuous loading zones | One accessible zone in every continuous 100 linear feet maximum of loading zone space |
| 1106.9.2 | Licensed medical and long-term care facilities where people receive physical or medical treatment or care and the period of stay exceeds 24 hours | A loading zone at an accessible entrance |
| 1106.9.3 | Valet parking services | A loading zone |
| 1106.9.4 | Mechanical access parking garages | At least one loading zone at vehicle drop-off and vehicle pick-up areas |
The medical facility requirement is triggered by stays longer than 24 hours, so a hospital or nursing home needs one; an outpatient clinic does not by that item alone. A valet operation needs a loading zone even though the patron never parks. IBC 1106.2 also requires an accessible loading zone at public lots where bus, truck and fleet spaces are exempted from the parking table.
Dimensions (A117.1 Section 503)
| Requirement | Section | Dimension |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle pull-up space | 503.2 | 96 in. wide by 20 ft long minimum |
| Access aisle location | 503.3.1 | Adjoins an accessible route; may not overlap vehicular ways |
| Access aisle width, new buildings | 503.3.2.1 | 67 in. minimum |
| Access aisle width, existing | 503.3.2.2 | 60 in. minimum |
| Access aisle length | 503.3.3 | Full length of the vehicle pull-up space |
| Aisle marking | 503.3.4 | Marked to discourage parking |
| Surfaces | 503.4 | Comply with 302; slopes not steeper than 1:48; aisle at the same level as the pull-up space |
| Vertical clearance | 503.5 | 114 in. minimum at the pull-up space, access aisle, the vehicular route from an entrance to the loading zone, and the route from the zone to a vehicular exit |
Compare the two clearances: 98 inches for van parking (502.6) and 114 inches for loading zones (503.5), because loading zones serve lift-equipped paratransit vehicles. A porte-cochere that is 10 feet high (120 inches) complies; one at 9 feet 2 inches (110 inches) does not.
Because the access aisle must be at the same level as the pull-up space, a design that places the aisle on the raised sidewalk behind a curb fails; the aisle must be at street level, and a curb ramp or blended transition connects it to the walk.
Bus Stops (A117.1 Section 805.2 to 805.4)
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Surface (805.2.1) | Firm and stable |
| New boarding and alighting area (805.2.2.1) | 100 in. clear length measured perpendicular to the curb or roadway edge, by 60 in. clear width measured parallel to the roadway |
| Existing boarding and alighting area (805.2.2.2) | 96 in. by 60 in. |
| Slope (805.2.3) | Parallel to the roadway: same as the roadway to the maximum extent practicable; perpendicular: 1:48 maximum |
| Connection (805.2.4) | Connected to streets, sidewalks or pedestrian paths by an accessible route |
| Shelters (805.3) | A clear floor space entirely within the shelter, connected by an accessible route to a boarding and alighting area |
| Signs (805.4) | Route identification signs use visual characters; schedules, timetables and maps are exempt |
IBC 1110.13 (2024; 1110.11 in 2021) requires detectable warnings at transit platform edges bordering a drop-off but exempts bus stops.
Rail Platforms and Stations (805.5 to 805.10)
- Platforms slope no more than 1:48 in all directions, except platforms on existing track or roadway may follow that grade parallel to the track.
- Platform boarding edges not protected by screens or guards have detectable warnings complying with 705.
- At each station entrance identified by a sign, at least one sign with raised characters and braille; each platform has at least one raised character and braille station identification sign.
- Public address information is also provided visually; clocks have contrasting, uncluttered faces; escalators are 32 in. clear minimum with demarcated and flat steps per ASME A17.1.
- Track crossings on circulation paths comply with 402 and have detectable warnings; wheel flange openings may be 2 1/2 in. maximum.
Worked Example
A new hospital has a 160-foot continuous curbside drop-off under a canopy at the main entrance and offers valet parking at the same curb.
- The hospital has stays longer than 24 hours, so an accessible loading zone at an accessible entrance is required (1106.9.2), and the valet stand also requires one (1106.9.3).
- 160 feet of continuous loading zone requires 2 accessible zones (one per 100 feet or fraction).
- Each zone: 96 in. x 20 ft pull-up space with a 67 in. access aisle at street level the full 20 ft length.
- The canopy must give 114 in. of clearance over the zones, the aisles and the vehicular route in and out.
A new hotel porte-cochere covers its passenger loading zone. What minimum vertical clearance does ICC A117.1 Section 503.5 require?
98 inches
114 inches
96 inches
120 inches
What is the minimum access aisle width at a passenger loading zone in a new building under ICC A117.1-2017?
60 inches
96 inches
67 inches
48 inches
Which facility is required by IBC 1106.9.2 to provide a passenger loading zone at an accessible entrance?
A licensed long-term care facility with stays over 24 hours
Any medical office building
A retail store with more than 500 occupants
An outpatient clinic open fewer than 24 hours per day on weekdays
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.