News from the U.S. Access Board:
More Than 600 Comments Submitted on Proposed Rights-of-Way Guidelines
The U.S. Access Board received more than 600 comments from the public on its
proposed guidelines for accessible public rights-of-way by the close of the
comment period on Feb. 2. The guidelines (PROWAG), which were available for
comment for six months, garnered feedback from an array of stakeholders and
interested parties, including transportation departments, civil engineers,
government entities, disability groups, industry associations, and others. The
Board also received feedback from the public at hearings held in Dallas and
Washington, D.C.
The guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks,
including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended
transitions, on-street parking, street furniture, and other elements. The
specifications comprehensively address access that accommodates all types of
disabilities, including mobility and vision impairments, while taking into
account conditions and constraints that may impact compliance, such as space
limitations and terrain. The Board will revise the guidelines based on its
review of the comments and publish them in final form. The final guidelines,
once implemented as standards, will apply to newly constructed or altered
portions of public rights of way covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). They will also apply to public rights of way built or altered with
funding from the federal government under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
and the Rehabilitation Act.
Comments on the proposed guidelines, as well as hearing transcripts, can be
viewed at www.regulations.gov. Additional information on the rulemaking
is posted on the Board’s website.