Agenda - Public Works Committee - 09/15/2009

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PEDSAFE : recommended guidelines/priorities for sidewalks and walkways Page 9 of12 ramp, the ramp must have flared sides of no more than 1: 1 0 (10 percent) slope. These flares are not needed where ramps are placed in a landscaped area. Curb ramps also require a minimum of 914 mm (36 In) of level and clear passage (1,219 mm (48 in) or more are desirable) at the top. Two separate curb ramps, one for each crosswalk, should be provided at each corner of an Intersection. Diagonal curb ramps provide no ,directional guidance to vision-impaired pedestrians, and force wheelchair users to maneuver In the crosswalk. Raised Islands in a crossing must have at least a 1,219-mm (48-ln) cut-through that is level with the street; this is generally preferable to curb ramps, which force wheelchair users to go up and down. Obstacles Along the Sidewalk The distance to the bottom of signs placed in or right next to a sidewalk should be at least 2 m (7 ft) above the sidewalk surface to avoid injury to pedestrians. Bushes, trees, arid other landscaping should be maintained to prevent encroachment Into the sidewalk. Jurisdictions should ,adopt ordinances requiring local property owners to trim the landscaping they place along their frontage to maintain clear and unobstructed sidewalks. The jurisdictions should provide an inspection procedure or a system of responding to sidewalk encroachment and maintenance complaints. Guy wires and utility tie-downs should not be located in or across sidewalks at heights below 2 m (7 ft). 'M1en placed adjacent to sid.ewalks or pedestrian walkways, the guy wires should be covered with a bright yellow (or other high- visibility) plastic guard to make the wire more visible to pedestrians, Guy wires of any color will not be visible to blind pedestrians and must not be located within the pedestrian route. Other obstacles Include signal controller boxes, awnings, temporary signs, newspaper racks, fire hydrants, and similar items. Accessibility The easiest way to visualize accessibility requirements (grade, cross-slope, and clear width) Is with the concept of a "contrnuouspassage." Sidewalks must provide a continuous route at a 2 percent maximum cross~slope at a minimum width of 0.9 m (3 ft), This does not mean that 0.9 m (3 ft) Is an acceptable slgewalk width, Just that at no point shall the level area be less than 0.9 m (3 ft) wide; this applies mainly at obstructions, driveways, and curb ramps. Snow Municipalities that do not remove snow on sidewalks should have an ordinance requiring property owners to clear the snow and keep the sidewalks accessible to pedestrians, \tVhen the latter Is the case, municipalities should educate property owners as to why this is Important and have enforcement efforts in place to ensure compliance. Bus Stops and Shelters It is generally preferable to place bus shelters between the sidewalk and the street, or between the sidewalk and adjacent property, so that waiting passengers do not obstruct the flow of pedestrians along the sidewalk. Benches and other street furniture should be placed outside the walking paths to maintain the accessibility of the walkway and to provide good pedestrian service. In addition, curb ramps should be provided at bus stops becallse It is not always possible for the bus to pull close enough to the curb to deploy a 11ft. L.ighting Good street lighting improves the visibility, comfort, and security of pedestrians. In urban areas, It is Important to light at least the intersections and other pedestrian crossing areas. Lighting is also recommended In areas where there Is a high concentration of nighttime pedestrian activity, such as churches, schools, and community centers. Where continuous lighting is provided along wide arterial streets, it Is desirable to place the lights along both sides of the street. Continuous streetlights should be spaced to provide a relatively uniform level of light. In shopping districts or In downtown areas with high concentrations of pedestrians, It Is desirable to provide pedestrian-level lighting In addition to the street lighting to improve the comfort and security of pedestrians. The preferred pedestrian-level lights are mercury vapor or Incandescent. Low~pressure sodium lights may be more energy-efficient; however, they are un.des1rable because they create considerable color distortion. Pedestrla'n-Ievellighting may also be installed in selected areas of htto://www. walkinginfo.org/pedsafe/moreinfo sidewalks. cfm 8/19/2009