[MissoulaGov] ada ramps?

[Bob Giordano]

This seems straight forward: MDT and FHWA approved the ramps.  It was
built.  Audit done.  Change required.  But why does Missoula have to use
scarce funds to make the corrections, when MDT and FHWA made the initial
approval?  What am I missing??

-Bob Giordano, Msla Inst. for Sustainable Transportation



  We also learned more about the problems
> with the ADA ramps I mentioned the other day.  The city's Safe Routes to
School program was randomly selected for an ADA audit. The auditors
complained about places where we put in improvements in intersections
that
> already had previously installed improvements. The previously installed
ramps met the guidelines at the time, but they wanted them upgraded to
the
> new standards. So all the stuff we put in was fine, but they wanted the
old stuff upgraded as well. At the time, the plans were reviewed and
approved by MDT and federal highway departments. The ADA auditors did
not
> interpret the regs the same way.  The cost of the upgrades will be about
$30,000. They consist of installing different color material at the end
of
> the ramps so sight impaired people can tell when they are about to enter
the roadway.  The ramps at the roundabout are built this way if you want
to see what they are talking about.
>