Update on ADA Issues Update on ADA Issues

Brooke Struve, PEBrooke Struve, PEDesign Program ManagerDesign Program Manager

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

AASHTO Subcommittee on DesignAASHTO Subcommittee on DesignAnnual Meeting—July 13-17, 2008Annual Meeting—July 13-17, 2008

ADA Legal ContextADA Legal Context

• Rehabilitation Act– Applies to programs and activities receiving

Federal financial assistance

• Americans with Disabilities Act – Applies to services, programs, and activities

of a public entity

Requirements for AccessibilityRequirements for Accessibility

• Department of Transportation Regulation– 49 CFR 37– ADAAG as incorporated in 36 CFR 1191

• Modifications:– Route location– Detectable warnings– Bus loading areas

Requirements for AccessibilityRequirements for Accessibility

• Department of Justice Regulation– 28 CFR 35 & 36– ADAAG as incorporated into 28 CFR 36

• Alternate standard – UFAS

• DOJ rulemaking (comments due 8-18-08)

ADA GuidanceADA Guidance

• FHWA memoranda– http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/ada_memo_clarificationi.htm– http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/ada_memo_clarificationa.htm

• FHWA Q & A – links to other resources– http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/ada_qa.htm

• DOJ Title II Technical Assistance Manual– http://www.ada.gov/taman2.html – http://www.ada.gov/taman2up.html

Design StandardsDesign Standards

• ADAAG or UFAS– FHWA recommends ADAAG– Limited information for public rights-of-way– Develop agency standards– Reasonable and consistent

ADA Design ResourcesADA Design Resources

• Draft Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights-of-Way (PROWAG) www.access-board.gov/rowdraft.htm

• Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access: Parts I and II http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalks/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalk2/

ADA Design ResourcesADA Design Resources

• Special Report: Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations http://www.access-board.gov/PROWAC/alterations/guide.htm

ADA Design ResourcesADA Design Resources

• Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Final Report

• Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice

http://www.trb.org

Program AccessibilityProgram Accessibility

• Transition Plan– Inventory of existing facilities limiting access– Describe methods to make facilities accessible– Specify schedule to implement– Identify responsible official– Public participation in self-evaluation– Public inspection of self-evaluation and plan

Project AccessibilityProject Accessibility

• New construction and Alterations

• Maintenance

• Technically infeasible/ structurally impractical

• Safety

• Cost

• Construction tolerances

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• MUTCD 6D.02Standard:

When existing pedestrian facilities are disrupted, closed, or relocated in a TTC zone, the temporary facilities shall be detectable and include accessibility features consistent with the features present in the existing pedestrian facility.

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• Continuous, unobstructed route

• Conflicts with traffic• Conflicts with

construction

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• Communicate alternate route to visually impaired

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• Continuous delineation– Cones, rope,

and tape not acceptable

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• Keep pedestrian route clear of construction activities

Accessibility in Work ZonesAccessibility in Work Zones

• Curb ramps

ADA QuestionsADA Questions

• Policy– Bob Cosgrove, Office of Civil Rights– Candace Groudine, Office of Civil Rights

• Legal– Lisa MacPhee, Office of Chief Counsel

• Design– Brooke Struve, Office of Program Administration