Memorandum - NHTSA

VI-3
Based on the 1995 APTA data, and similar to transit buses, NHTSA assumes that 92.6 percent of
paratransit buses sold are lift eq~ipped.~However, for purposes of cost analysis and to ~CCOUIit
for future paratransit bus lift installations, the agency is assuming 100 percent are lift equipped.
The 1996 distribution of demand response vehicles in-use estimated by FTA was; MPVs (50%),
automobiles (27.78%) and buses (22.22%).’ WTSA assumes that demand response vehicle
sales are proportional to the in-use distribution. Applying these proportions to the above annu 11
estimate of 1,290-1,720 paratransit vehicles yields; 645-860 MPVs, 358-478 automobiles, and
287-382 buses sold annually. For purposes of analysis, NHTSA assumes only 50% of the
vans/MPVs are lift-equipped with GVWR >4,540 kg (10,000 lbs.) and that 100 percent of the
paratransit buses are lift-equipped for a total of 610 - 812 paratransit units per year [e.g., S(32 J
to 430 MPVs + 1.0(287 to 382) buses] that would be affected by the subject rule annually.6
Paratransit automobiles are excluded fiom the analysis since they would be equipped with roo ;
trunk, or rear bumper mounted lifts that do not lift the occupant.
School Buses - The agency does not how many school buses are lift-equipped. Type I1 school
buses [also known as Type A (-40,000lbs. GVWR) and Type B (>10,000 lbs.)] are designate11
for use by disabled and special education students. Over the last 6 years, school bus sales havl;
4 1997 Transit Fact Book, APTA, see page 82, page 85 - Table 50 and page 89 - Table 54.
FTA is the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
6 The proportion of MPVs >4,540 kg mass (10,000 lbs.) GVWR which are lift-equipped vs those that aw
ramp-equipped is unknown. NHTSA assumes a 50/50 split.