Accessible Public Rights-of-Way: Open Question & Answer Session

Ensuring that public streets and sidewalks are accessible to people with disabilities can be a challenge, especially since accessibility guidelines for public rights-of-way have yet to be finalized. This session will be devoted to answering the various questions that come up in addressing access to sidewalks and street crossings, pedestrian signals, on-street parking, roundabouts, transit stops and other components of public rights-of-way as well as shared use paths. Access Board Accessibility Specialists will answer questions submitted in advance or during the live webinar and offer guidance, solutions, and best practices based on guidelines the Access Board proposed for public rights-of-way. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions in advance.

Questions for presenters:

1. Besides BuyAccessible or VPAT, is there a checklist (or a series of checklists) that we can use when buy ICT products?

2. Many roadway agencies have adopted the practice/requirement of upgrading curb ramps during repaving (i.e., an alteration). Is there a similar requirement for upgrading transit stops to meet ADA requirements when the adjacent street is repaved?

3. I understand that shared use paths are supposed to be limited to 5% maximum running slope where feasible. However, that is often not feasible in areas such as mine that often feature steep topography. Can these requirements be changed to the rules currently in force for trails (i.e. 12:1 up to 200', etc.), or, alternatively, what tests does one have to meet to prove that the 5% running slope requirement is not feasible in a certain case?

4. What are the guidelines for the ever increasing popularity of Street Cafes ?

5. Who is responsible for upgrades to bus stops? they are a transit facility but found in the public rights of way.

6. 1. Is it legal for a person in a wheelchair to ride in a marked bicycle lane on the street? 2. I have been in a wheelchair for 40+ years. It is becoming more more difficult to wheel downtown with all the sidewalk cafés. Increasingly sidewalk cafés place their tables and chairs closer and closer to the curb. This makes it very dangerous to falling over the curb into the street Who do I contact in cases like this? 3. More & more trees are planted on sidewalks enclosed by steel grates. The center hole for these grates must have a certain radius to allow for growth. I have fallen into a few of these holes, almost falling out of my chair. What are the guidelines for the radius of these grates?

7. When/where are crosswalks required to be striped?

8. Balancing the needs of diverse populations of persons with disabilities. How can the deployment of tactile warning surface indicators ensure that pedestrians who are blind receive adequate warning and are not directed into the centre of intersections. And, how can these techniques mittigate the impact, real or perceived on persons relying on the use of mobility devices. How much warning is adequate, are the dimentions of the TWSI adequate? Round abouts: Research, all be it sparce, has been done on round about design and accessibility, but has it been validated given the prevelence of these emerging trafic structures?

Session Questions

This session is accepting questions from registered users. After you have registered to participate in this session you can submit your questions on your Account Manager page. Please note: the number of questions will be limited and submissions will be closed well before the session starts to provide time to prepare answers.

Registration

• Required

• Cost - Free

• To register please click here - You must have an account and be signed in to complete your registration. For first time users you must create an account. This step is done only once and you will use the same account to register for different sessions throughout the year. After you create an account, you will immediately be able to register for any of our sessions.

• Continuing Education

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