Passenger Loading Zones and the ADA
Passenger Loading Zone
Passenger Loading Zones (PLZ) must be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This article will discuss the ADA requirements for PLZs in State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities. The sections of the 2010 ADA Standards that covers PLZs the most include 209 and 503. The photo on the right is representative of a PLZ that is compliant with the ADA.
Where passenger loading zones are provided, at least one accessible passenger loading zone is required in every continuous 100 linear feet of loading zone or fraction thereof. Compliance is required only where areas are specifically designed or designated for passenger loading, such as those at airports, many hotels, convention centers, and some parking garages.
2010 ADA Standard 209.2.1, Passenger Loading Zones, states, “Passenger loading zones, except those required to comply with [Standards] 209.2.2 and 209.2.3, shall provide at least one passenger loading zone complying with [Standard] 503 in every continuous 100 linear feet (30 m) of loading zone space, or fraction thereof.” So if you have 150 feet of PLZ, 1.5, rounded up to 2, accessible PLZs are required.
Note that PLZs apply to designated areas, not to random drop-off/pickup points used by a cab, Uber, or Lyft service. Furthermore, according to the US Access Board, “Only those areas that are specifically designed or designated for passenger loading are considered “passenger loading zones” under the Standards. This includes those passenger drop-off or pick-up areas commonly found at airports, convention centers, schools, and many hotel entrances that have design features, signs, or markings indicating passenger loading zones. At other locations, compliance is not required even if passenger loading may occasionally occur, but is not specifically intended or reflected in the design.”
There are three types of facilities that always require a PLZ. These include medical care and long-term care facilities, facilities using valet parking, and mechanical access parking garages.
Medical Logo
2010 ADA Standard 209.3, [Passenger Loading Zones] Medical Care and Long-Term Care Facilities, states, “At least one passenger loading zone complying with [Standard] 503 shall be provided at an accessible entrance to licensed medical care and licensed long-term care facilities where the period of stay exceeds twenty-four [24] hours.” So all hospitals for humans are required to have at least one accessible PLZ. The graphic below is representative of an accessible PLZ.
Passenger Loading Zone
Parking Facility Logo
2010 ADA Standard 209.4, [Passenger Loading Zones] Valet Parking, states, “Parking facilities that provide valet parking services shall provide at least one passenger loading zone complying with [Standard] 503.” So this Standard only applies to parking facilities with valet parking. Not all other places such as restaurants, unless the restaurant uses a parking facility to park the vehicles. If a restaurant, or some other entity, offers valet parking but not from a designated loading zone, then an accessible PLZ is not required.
Valet parking facilities or entities that use a designated loading zone also must have a policy and procedure for self-parking so that disabled individuals who have a vehicle that can only be operated by the disabled individual can use the parking facility.
Mechanical Access Parking Garage
2010 ADA Standard 209.5, [Passenger Loading Zones] Mechanical Access Parking Garages , states, “Mechanical access parking garages shall provide at least one passenger loading zone complying with [Standard] 503 at vehicle drop-off and vehicle pick-up areas.” The graphic on the right is representative of a mechanical access parking garage.
Passenger loading zones are designed to include a vehicle pull-up space, a marked accessible aisle between the vehicle pull-up space and the curb or walkway, and a curb ramp, if applicable. The graphic below is representative.
Passenger Loading Zone Schematic
2010 ADA Standard 503.2, Vehicle Pull-Up Space, states, “Passenger loading zones shall provide a vehicular pull-up space 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum and 20 feet (6100 mm) long minimum.”
2010 ADA Standard 503.3, Access Aisle, states, “Passenger loading zones shall provide access aisles complying with [Standard] 503 adjacent to the vehicle pull-up space. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route and shall not overlap the vehicular way.” The access aisle must be at least 60 inches wide, extend the full length of the vehicle pull-up space, adjoin an accessible route, and cannot overlap vehicular ways.
2010 ADA Standard 503.3.1, Width, states, “Access aisles serving vehicle pull-up spaces shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) wide minimum.”
2010 ADA Standard 503.3.2, Length, states, “Access aisles shall extend the full length of the vehicle pull-up spaces they serve.”
2010 ADA Standard 503.3.3, Marking, states, ”Access aisles shall be marked so as to discourage parking in them.” The marking method and color is not specified in the ADA Standards.
2010 ADA Standard 503.4, Floor and Ground Surfaces, states, “Vehicle pull-up spaces and access aisles serving them shall comply with [Standard] 302. Access aisles shall be at the same level as the vehicle pull-up space they serve. Changes in level are not permitted. EXCEPTION: Slopes not steeper than 1:48 [2.08%] shall be permitted.” In other words, the access aisle and vehicle pull-up space must be at the same level and the slope of these surfaces cannot exceed 2.08%. These surfaces must also be stable, firm and slip resistant and cannot hold water or debris that would make the surfaces slippery.
2010 ADA Standard 503.5, Vertical, states, “Vehicle pull-up spaces, access aisles serving them, and a vehicular route from an entrance to the passenger loading zone, and from the passenger loading zone to a vehicular exit shall provide a vertical clearance of 114 inches (2895 mm) minimum.” The graphic below is representative. This height is greater than the 98 inches required for van accessible parking spaces because it is intended to accommodate larger vehicles and buses. Note that this height requirement includes the vehicular route from the entry to the PLZ and out to the exit.
Accessible passenger loading zones are not required to be identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility.
Summary
Where passenger loading zones are provided, at least one accessible passenger loading zone is required in every continuous 100 linear feet of loading zone or fraction thereof. Medical care and long-term care facilities, facilities using valet parking from a designated loading zone, and mechanical access parking garages always require a PLZ.
Article revised 12/2021.
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