The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), with technical direction provided by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe), sponsored University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to conduct impact tests using a wheelchair (WC) and an Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD) between July 2024 and January 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over the past decade, FRA funded and led several research initiatives on rail car accessibility. The current research effort focused on evaluating the performance of wheelchairs and occupants under dynamic accident loads represented by an 8-g crash pulse with and without Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint Systems (WTORS).

Infrastructure Assets: Transit Assets
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Performance Based Planning & Programming