Agenda - Council - 10/11/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dete'ctable Warnings at Curb tKamps your city tflinkin~ of curb construction, reconstruction or road resurfacin~ thf3 Accessibility guidelines currently require that state and Iocal governments install detectabie warnings when constructing or substantially altering curb ramps. In addition, the Federai Highway Admirfisrrafion and the Minnesota Depam'nent of. Transportation IMn.DOT) currendy require use of detectable warnings when curb ramps are constructed or altered or roads are resurfaced on ~LrflDOT, state aid or federal aid projects. Tbhs article offers an overview of detectable warn/nas and some backgound on the law. What are detectable warnings and why are they needed? The official definition of detectable warnings is "a standardized surface feature built in or applied to walking surfaces or other elements ro wsa-n'visually impaired people of' hazards on a circulation path." With th~ elimination 'of curbs, and co--on use of curb ramps, ped=sthans with impM~d or no vision find ~t mu~h mo~e difficult to locate ~e potendMly dangerous mtersection of sidewaYs ~d smelts. Detectable w~ng~ ~nction like a stop ai~ for those wit~ ~paired vision; they ~e small, fla~ned bumps or "~nca~d placed M nhe concrete on ~urb r~pa. These truncated domes underfoot physically pedest5ans with little or no vision ~at they are approaching a h~ardous ~a, such as a stroll Accorddmg ~o some sources, the truncated domes are the only suffac~ that ~s detectable to ped~stfi~ who ~ bled, ~i~r under foot or by use ora can~. w~ings must also visually contrast wi~ au~ounding s~facas so thg pedestrians w~ low vision perceive ~e upcoming change from sidewa~ to street. Is this. a new requirement? Tkis provision in accessibili~ guidelines is not brand new. Detectable wan'tings were first required in I991 bur the requirement was suspended for ten years to conduct research on durability and pedestrian's ability to detect various surfaces. In 2001, the federal Arcldtectural and Transportation Banders Compliance Board (the Access Board), the Department of Justice, and the Department of Transportation allowed the suspension to expire. Therefore, since July 2001, detectable warnings have been required in local goven0Jnent consrracdon or alteration projects. Does this ADA requirement apply to all sidewalk or street alterations? All newly constructed projects in the public fight-of-way are subject to accessibility guidelines including the requirement for detectable warnings. In addition, curb ramps with truncated domes are required on all NLnDOT, state aid or federal aid projects during construction, aiterattons, or when roads are resurfaced. 22 other projects, the scope of addition or alteration may 4eten-nine ~f the access/bility guidelines appiy. Generally speaking, in order to increase accessibility, the more extensive rise proiect, the more ~i' ~' ~ ae Access Board has a tecknical assistance memo on the ~.~.ty the guidelines apply. -246-