Update on ADA Issues

1. Update on ADA Issues Brooke Struve, PE Design Program Manager Federal Highway Administration AASHTO Subcommittee on Design Annual Meeting—July 13-17, 2008

2. ADA 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

3. Requirements for Accessibility • Department of Transportation Regulation • 49 CFR 37 • ADAAG as incorporated in 36 CFR 1191 • Modifications: • Route location • Detectable warnings • Bus loading areas

4. Requirements 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)

5. ADA 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

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

7. ADA 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/

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

9. ADA Design Resources • Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Final Report • Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice http://www.trb.org

10. Program 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

11. Project Accessibility • New construction and Alterations • Maintenance • Technically infeasible/ structurally impractical • Safety • Cost • Construction tolerances

12. Accessibility in Work Zones • MUTCD 6D.02 Standard: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.

13. Continuous, unobstructed route Conflicts with traffic Conflicts with construction Accessibility in Work Zones

14. Accessibility in Work Zones • Communicate alternate route to visually impaired

15. Continuous delineation Cones, rope, and tape not acceptable Accessibility in Work Zones

18. Keep pedestrian route clear of construction activities Accessibility in Work Zones

19. Curb ramps Accessibility in Work Zones

21. ADA 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