Busway platform raising?

[timh]

Ok hear me out.

I know there are far higher priorities than this in regards to disability compliance across the network, namely installation of lifts at stations (looking at you Sherwood) and train platform raising, but has anyone given any thought to the level of busway platforms?

Currently if someone in a wheelchair needs to get on, the driver still needs to open that little ramp thing as there's like a 100mm gap between the height of the buses and the platform. I'm assuming that these platforms were just built at the standard gutter height without much thought given to having it at the *exact* height of the bus floor, as it's kinda close enough for most purposes and isn't as much of a safety issue as it is with trains.

However, given the introduction of the bi-artics and the whole Brisbane Metro thing, do you think there will be ever be cause or necessity to raise the height of the platforms on the busway to meet the floor of the metro vehicle exactly? Or do you think the metro vehicle will have floors the exact height of the platform (this is see as unlikely).
Obviously this would only be for the busway, regular bus stops would be impractical for this. I also imagine raising a busway platform would be logistically much easier from a construction perspective than doing a train station.

Might I clarify I'm not advocating for this, there are obviously far more pressing DDA issues, I just noticed it recently and wanted to discuss

[AnonymouslyBad]

I thought buses were more or less level with the platforms after they do that hydraulic lowering thing.

The health and safety types would probably direct that a ramp is still 'safer', and provides consistency, and should be used regardless of where or how well the bus is parked.

[City Designer]

150mm high barrier kerb and a plain concrete slab with a maximum crossfall of 2.5% is the standard under the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.

[SurfRail]

Kassel kerbs and slightly higher would be the way to go.

The DDA and DSAPT are hardly statements of perfection.  They don't even stop us ordering buses with stairs in them.

[timh]

Yeah I understand that with the current curb heights and the hydraulic bus lowering thing its *close*, but its not literally perfectly in line like the new raised train platforms.

Maybe going forward it's something that could be done at newer stations as a trial, like the underground Cultural centre. That and platform screen doors would offer a very "metro" like station for commuters.