RV 2014: Complete Streets- From Policy to Implementation by Tony Hull
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The document discusses the concept of complete streets and their importance in promoting accessibility in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It highlights the existing challenges in achieving complete streets that meet ADA standards and emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to remove barriers and enhance inclusivity. The document also outlines resources and guidelines for improving public rights-of-way to better serve diverse user needs.
RV 2014: Complete Streets- From Policy to Implementation by Tony Hull
- 1. Complete Streets and ADA Common Challenges, Common Solu/ons Tony Hull Railvolu/on September 22, 2014
- 2. Complete Streets Redefining the role of the street • Aspira/onal • Inclusive of all people/modes • Culture shiEing • New priori/es • New design tools • Focus on people not vehicles • Complete Streets are Accessible Streets!
- 3. Accessible (ADA Compliant) Streets ADA has redefined public responsibility for our streets • Civil right to par/cipa/on • Inclusive of all people/abili/es • Culture shiEing • New requirements • New design tools/standards • Focus on equal accessibility • Accessible Streets are Complete Streets!
- 4. Americans with Disabili9es Act (ADA): Title II State and Local Government Services Background • Civil Rights Act (1964) • Architectural Barriers Act (1968) • Rehabilita/on Act – Sec/on 504 (1973) • Americans with Disabili/es Act (1990) • Five Titles • Title II State and Local Government Services New Construc/on/Altera/ons – 28 CFR 35.151* • Any facility constructed aEer 1-‐26-‐92 must comply with ADAAG/UFAS • Altered por/ons of public facili/es must meet new construc/on guidelines to max extent feasible Self Evalua/on/Transi/on Plan – 28 CFR 35.105 • Examine/inventory accessibility of exis/ng facili/es • Develop and implement transi/on plan by January 1995
- 5. Understanding “Accessibility” Elimina/on of barriers • Movement Barriers: • Difficult terrain • Obstacles/obstruc/ons • Adequate presence and width of facili/es • Allow adequate crossing /me • Informa/on Barriers: Anything that restricts an individual’s ability to comprehend and navigate the street environment – includes addressing the needs of persons with: • Visual disabili/es • Hearing disabili/es • Cogni/ve disabili/es
- 8. Nearly 25 years later – Barriers s9ll exist! Progress to removal of barriers is slow • Programma/c approach/Lack of ADA integra/on – silo effect • Focus on mee/ng requirements over improving accessibility • Fear of liability impedes progress • Lack of clarity about standards (10 years of draE guidelines)
- 9. CS & ADA Common Challenges Complete Streets • System-‐wide change difficult to achieve • Breaking free of tradi/onal thinking and prac/ce • ShiEing focus to “outside-‐in” approach with an emphasis on context and roadway compa/bility Americans with Disabili9es Act • Ins/tu/onalizing standards and principles • Developing agency-‐wide capacity • Mentality of mee/ng requirements • Embracing the intent of “accessibility”
- 10. ADA can be part of the Complete Streets solu9on A Complete Street is only “Complete” when mee/ng ADA standards • CS and ADA both focus on retrofikng to correct system deficiencies • Both can only succeed with a fully integrated/holis/c approach • Accessible Public Rights-‐of-‐Way guide = Complete Street solu/ons
- 11. Accessible Public Rights-‐of-‐Way Guide: Design Solu9ons
- 12. Accessible Public Rights-‐of-‐Way Guide: Model Sidewalks
- 13. Opportunity Embracing ADA as part of Complete Streets is win-‐win • Addressing diverse user needs • Avoiding mistakes (form over func/on?) • Improving design outcomes • Accelera/ng compliance with ADA • Op/mizing limited resources • Decreasing exposure to liability
- 14. Resources • United States Access Board hop://www.access-‐board.gov/ • Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facili/es in the Public Rights-‐of-‐Way hop://www.access-‐board.gov/aoachments/ar/cle/743/nprm.pdf • Special Report: Accessible Public Rights-‐of-‐Way Planning and Designing for Altera/ons (July 2007) hop://www.access-‐board.gov/aoachments/ar/cle/756/guide.pdf