ada in temporary traffic control: building accessible and ......feasible under existing conditions....

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ADA in Temporary Traffic Control: Building Accessible and Detectable Work Zones

Ron W. Eck, P.E.

West Virginia LTAP

[email protected]

Course Overview

• Background/Introduction

• Pedestrian Access Route (PAR)

• Accommodating Pedestrians

• Accessible/Detectable Temporary Path

• Best Practices

• Assess Actual TTC Situations

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Americans with Disabilities Act

• Signed into law July 26, 1990

• Equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities

• Is a civil rights law

• All programs and new and altered facilities (regardless of funding) must be accessible

• USDOJ has ultimate compliance responsibility

Public Rights‐of‐Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)

• Stand‐alone document providing accessibility standards specific to PROW

• Applicable to new construction and alterations (of existing facilities)

• Undergoing rulemaking process (2011 NPRM)

• Agencies should be using PROWAG

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PROWAG Advisory R302.1

• Temporary routes are alterations to an existing developed pedestrian environment and are required to achieve the maximum accessibility feasible under existing conditions.

Alternate Pedestrian Access Route (R205)

• When a pedestrian circulation path is temporarily closed by construction, alterations, maintenance operations, or other conditions, an alternate pedestrian access route complying with sections 6D.01, 6D.02, and 6G.05 of the MUTCD shall be provided. Where provided, pedestrian barricades and channelizing devices shall comply with sections 6F.63, 6F.68, and 6F.71 of the MUTCD.

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2009 MUTCD Section 6A.01

• “The needs and control of all road users (motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians within the highway or on private roads open to public travel, ) throu ) through a TTC zone be an essential part of highway construction, utility work, maintenance operations, and the management of traffic incidents.”

including persons with

disabilities shall

Where’s the Alternate Pedestrian Access Route?

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Scope

• Requirements apply to all TTC zones by state and local road agencies, construction & maintenance contractors (both road and vertical construction), utility companies, landscaping companies, was well as any sidewalk, lane or road closure for vertical construction activities.

Scope Includes

• Closing a sidewalk for repairs/utility work

• Small projects like downtown storefront alteration adjacent to PROW

• Major construction projects requiring closure of lanes or sidewalks

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Definition (1)

• Accessible: describes an alternate ped pathway through a sidewalk work zone that peds can safely reach, enter and travel through to the end of the work zone (e.g., curb ramps, turning spaces and smooth, stable non‐slip surface).

Definition (2)

• Detectable: a traffic control device placed within a temporary ped pathway that has a continuous edge. Peds with limited vision can safely follow that continuous edge by hand or walking device (e.g., a cane) to the end of the pathway.

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Detectable? Accessible?


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PROWAG R302‐‐Pedestrian Access Route

–R302.3 Continuous Width

–R302.4 Passing Spaces

–R302.5 Grade

–R302.6 Cross Slope

–R302.7 Surfaces

–R402 Protruding Objects

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Width (R302.3)

• The MINIMUM continuous and unobstructed clear width of a pedestrian access route shall be 4.0 ft, exclusive of the width of the curb.

Measure from back of curb!

4’

Width—Passing Spaces (R302.4)

• Walkways in pedestrian access routes that are less than 5.0 ft in clear width shall provide passing spaces (5.0 ft wide for a distance of 5.0 ft) at intervals of 200 ft maximum.

5.O ft5.O ft 200 ft

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Walkway Grade (R302.5)

• If sidewalk in ROW and along road or bridge: can follow general parallel roadway grade

• Otherwise, max grade is 5%

• Crosswalk grade (street crown): 5% maximum

Walkway Cross Slope (R302.6)

The cross slope of the walkway of a pedestrian access route shall be 2 percent maximum

4.2

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Potential Cross Slope Solution

Create a level area of preferably 6 ft (4 ft min.)

Surfaces (R302.7)

Surfaces must be firm, stable, and slip-resistant.Should be smooth.

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Vertical Surface Discontinuities (R302.7.2)

• Vertical surface discontinuities shall not exceed ¼ inch maximum

• Those between ¼ and ½ inch shall be beveled with a slope not steeper than 50% (bevel across the entire vertical surface discontinuity)

¼ inch max¼ ‐ ½ inch

Horizontal Openings (R302.7.3)

Walkway Joints & Gratings ‐ Openings shall not permit passage of a sphere more than 0.5 inch in diameter.

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Protruding Objects (R402)

• Objects with leading edges more than 27 inches and not more than 80 inches above the finish surface shall protrude 4 inches max. horizontally into pedestrian circulation paths.

Protruding Object

Protruding Objects in PAR

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Curb Ramp Components (R304)

Turning Space

High color contrastlow vision cue

Curb Ramp Components—Visual and Tactile Contrast

• Detectable warnings (truncated domes)

– Visual (provide high color contrast)

– Tactile

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Detectable Warnings

• Alert pedestrians with visual impairments about the sidewalk to street transition

• Use everywhere the curb is missing at a street crossing

Types of Sidewalk‐Street Transitions

• Curb Ramps

‐‐ Perpendicular Ramps

‐‐ Parallel Ramps

• Blended Transitions

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In Accommodating Pedestrians, Consider

• Type of work being performed

• Duration of the work

• The hazards and impediments the work will create for peds

For TTC zones where work crews are present

and work will last only a few hours or less

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Need To . . .

• Determine how peds might be affected by work activity

• Establish a plan for how crew will assist any peds (especially those with vision or mobility disabilities) in negotiating the work zone

• Identify someone to watch for peds and initiate the plan if the need arises

What If . . .?

• TTC zone left in place over several days that does not have workers present at all times‐‐will need more extensive effort to accommodate peds.

• Peds will need to be accommodated throughout the entire TTC zone.

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Approaches to Routing Pedestrians

Remember‐‐First and foremost consideration for all pedestrians is safety

Three Approaches

• Maintain existing ped pathways if sidewalks can remain open during construction

• Develop an alternative pathway parallel to or easily reached from current pathway, if current pathway must be closed.

• If existing ped path must be closed, identify and develop an alternative ped pathway in advance of the TTC that will detour peds around the TTC.

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Maintaining Accessibility on Current Pathway

• If current ped pathway can remain safely open to all users during construction, MUTCD states that temporary facilities must include accessibility features consistent with features present in the existing ped facility.

In Addition . . .

• Protect peds from trenches/holes adjacent to path (must be detectable and continuous)

• Ensure peds cannot walk into work space (if not safe to do so)

• Make sure good sight lines are maintained for peds and drivers at intersections

• Make sure access to transit stops and businesses is provided

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Alternate Pedestrian Access Route

• Alternate pedestrian access routes shall comply with Section R205 (among other things) of PROWAG.

• R205 specifies that the alternate circulation path shall be:– Provided on the same side of the street as the disrupted route, to the maximum extent feasible

– Where exposed to adjacent construction, traffic or other hazards, shall be protected with a pedestrian barricade or channelization device

Considerations in Creating an Accessible Alternate Pathway

• General Environment—ped generators?

• Traffic Characteristics

• Access to Businesses and Transit

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PROWAG Section R205 and MUTCD Section 6D.01

• Where feasible, same side travel is preferred because it does not increase ped exposure to traffic and risk of crash that an added street crossing brings.

• Note: Depending on traffic characteristics and surrounding environment, a route that uses a vehicle lane width for the ped pathway may be shorter, safer and more usable than one that requires two street crossings.

Components of an Accessible/Detectable Temporary Path

• Detectable Edging

• Channelizing Devices

• Pathway Width and Surface

• Temporary Ramps

• Sidewalk Closures

• Audible Devices

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Note!

• MUTCD prohibits the use of tape, rope or plastic chain strung between devices because they are not detectable and do not comply with the design standards in ADAAG (nor with guidance in PROWAG)

Detectable Edging for Pedestrians

• Should be provided throughout the length of the facility.

• Should protrude at least 6 inches above surface of pathway with bottom of the edging a maximum of 2.5 inches above the surface.

• Should be firmly attached to the ground or to other devices

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Detectable Pedestrian Edging (2)

• Should be orange, white or yellow and should match the color of the adjacent channelizing devices or traffic control devices, if any are present.

Examples of Detectable Edging

• Pre‐fabricated lightweight sections of plastic, metal or other suitable materials that are interconnected and fixed in place to form a continuous edge

• Sections of lumber interconnected and fixed in place to form continuous edge

• Formed‐in‐place asphalt or concrete curb

• Chain‐link or other fencing equipped with a continuous bottom rail

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What Do You Think?

Channelizing Devices

• Ped channelizing devices should be vertical, sturdy and have smooth continuous surfaces free of sharp or rough edges or objects

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MUTCD (6F.63)

• Devices used to channelize peds must be detectable to users of long canes and visible to persons with low vision.

• Must be continuous detectable bottom and top surfaces to be detectable to cane users

• The bottom of the bottom surface must be no higher than 2 inches above the ground. The top of the top surface shall be no lower than 32 inches above the ground.

Protruding Object Requirements

• No part of the device may extend more than 4 inches into the ped pathway (can cause wheelchair to get stuck or overturn, trip a visually impaired person or cause someone using a cane to become disoriented)

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Compliant Channelizing Device

More Channelizing Devices

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Compliant?

What’s Really Needed

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Longitudinal Channelizing Devices

• Have not met the crashworthy requirements for temporary traffic barriers

• Should not be used to shield obstacles or provide positive protection for pedestrians or workers

Temporary Traffic Barriers (TTB)

• Devices designed to help prevent penetration by vehicles while minimizing injuries to vehicle occupants and designed to protect workers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

• All temporary traffic barriers shall be crashworthy.

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Temporary Traffic Barriers (2)

• TTB’s shall be supplemented with standard delineation, pavement markings or channelizing devices for improved visibility if they are used to channelize vehicular traffic

What Do You Think?

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Note!!

• Without external steel rails or internal steel framework, water‐filled longitudinal channelizers do not have the capability to redirect vehicles so may not be substituted whenever a barrier is specified.

• Another consideration with use of water‐filled barriers is their deflection characteristics. Precast concrete barriers generally have lower deflection and can be pinned in place

MUTCD TA‐28

ped channelizer, not traffic barrier

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Use of Channelizers in Roadway

MN DOT

Use of TTB in Roadway

MN DOT

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Pathway Width

• Minimum continuous clear width of 48 inches, free of obstructions, must be maintained (60 inches recommended)

• Where clear width is less than 60 inches, passing spaces (5 ft by 5 ft) must be provided at intervals of a maximum of 200 feet

Surfaces

• Ensure the walkway surface is smooth, solid and non‐slip

• Path should be able to support a wheelchair under all conditions

• Path should drain well and be checked for standing water after rain

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Surfaces (2)

• Joints should be closed and flush to prevent tripping and to reduce chance of canes or small wheels getting trapped in gaps or spaces

• If grates located within ped route, orient them perpendicular to the pathway and openings must be narrow enough to comply with PROWAG

Temporary Curb Ramps

• Should be full width of temporary route; 60‐inch recommended and minimum width of 48 inches

• Ramps should lie in single sloped plane with a minimum of surface warping

• Handrails on curb ramps not required unless ramp has rise exceeding 6 inches and length exceeding 72 inches

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Temporary Curb Ramps (2)

• Ramps should be firm and stable with slip‐resistant surface

• Should not warp or buckle and be strong enough to support weight of peds as well as motorized scooters and wheelchairs

• Should be color contrasting and contain marked edge so they are noticeable by pedswho have visual impairments

Temporary Curb Ramp Transitions

• Should be flush and free of abrupt changes

• Changes in level between ¼ and ½ inch need to beveled with slope no greater than 1:2

• Maximum slopes of adjoining gutters, road surface immediately adjacent to curb ramp or the accessible route may not exceed 1:20

• Need 4 x 4 ft or 5 by 5 ft turning spaces at top and bottom of ramp

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Examples of Bad Temporary Ramps

Temporary Pedestrian Modular Ramp

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Covered Pathways

• Where work activities take place above a ped walkway for extended period, provide a covered walkway to protect from falling debris

• Short‐term closures of walkways and provision of alternate routes must be provided anytime construction materials or operations occur over a ped walkway

Overhead and Protrusion Protection

• If accessible route uses canopied walkway, MUTCD states such a walkway should have minimum of 7 ft (84 inches) of headroom. PROWAG calls for 80 inches.

• Objects with leading edges more than 27 inches and not more than 80 above the walk are not permitted to protrude more than 4 inches into ped pathway.

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Examples of Overhead Protection

Sidewalk Closures

• Where pedestrians with visual disabilities normally use [a] closed sidewalk, a barrier that is detectable by a person with a visual disability traveling with the aid of a long cane shall be placed across the full width of the closed sidewalk (MUTCD Section 6D.02).

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Detectable Walkway Closure?

Sidewalk Closed Sign andChannelizing Devices

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Communication Devices

• MUTCD notes most desirable way to provide guidance through TTC for people with visual disabilities is “a speech message provided by an audible information device . . . [which] is needed when the detectable barricade or barrier for an alternate channelized route is not continuous.”

Communication Devices (2)

• Best devices are those that provide “speech messages in response to passive pedestrian actuation,” although devices that continuously emit a message or emit a message in response to use of pushbutton (need locator tone) are also acceptable.

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Guides

• A guide can be provided in advance of TTC area to assist any disabled persons in navigating the accessible pathway.

• May be appropriate in areas with higher concentrations of individuals with disabilities.

What Do You Think?

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Communicate with the Public

• Community announcements

– Residents, businesses, schools

• Project web sites

– Particularly useful with major projects, heavily used facilities

Other Considerations/Best Practices

• Determine level of accessibility needed for peds in TTC zone by observing existing ped travel patterns and make accommodations prior to the start of work.

• Solicit input from local pedestrians, including people with disabilities, on types of devices, how they will be placed and used and lengths/times of any closures

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Other Considerations/Best Practices (2)

• At very least, put yourself in the pedestrian’s shoes (get a cane and wheelchair)

‐‐ is the route confusing?

‐‐ can the detour be clearly communicated?

‐‐ is the detour accessible?

‐‐ does the detour require crossing heavy traffic?


• Prioritize routing through if safe to do so, narrowing the route or placing it in the street

• If cannot maintain safe and accessible route through or around construction, then other options should be explored, e.g. shuttle service

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‐‐ Build new sidewalk early in multi‐phase projects

• Phasing of Construction


• Phasing of Construction

‐‐ work on only one side of street at a time

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• No vehicles, equipment or materials shall block sidewalks, ped ramps or other pedestrian infrastructure without approval of the agency


• Channelization and barricades shall not impede sight distance at corners or block access to any push button, signal or ADA infrastructure.

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What Do You Think?

Crosswalks Provide Access to Curb Ramps, So They Must Be Kept Clear or Barricaded(need education, awareness, enforcement)

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• Revise current agency policies to include accessible and detectable alternate pedestrian pathways

• Practice constant enforcement of these policies

Let’s Assess Some TTC Installations/Situations

What Do You Think?

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Case 1‐‐The Situation

• Gas company removed sidewalk and excavated a trench to repair section of gas line

• After new pipe installed, gas company backfilled trench and provided stone surface

• Gas company notified concrete contractor, who, by contract, has 3 weeks to place and finish concrete

More Facts

• Sidewalk is in downtown but outside of core business district

• Handful of pedestrians per hour

• Building at upper right is a museum

• In addition to being part of downtown network, sidewalk connects museum to its parking lot

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Questions

• Is the sidewalk shown, an accessible sidewalk?

• How do we handle such situations—immediate versus longer term?

Case 1

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Case 2—How Do We Handle?

Case 3‐‐How Does Your Agency Handle This?

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Case 4‐‐The Situation

• Midwestern city of 100,000 population

• State office building getting new desks, bookcases and other furniture

• Old furniture to be moved out (morning) and new furniture to be moved in (afternoon)

• Wheeled dollies will be used for the moves

• Five‐person crew assigned to this job

More Facts

• A metered parking space in front of the building has been blocked off for use by the truck delivering/removing furniture

• Photograph shown was taken around 12:15 pm when crew was on lunch break.

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Questions

• Is this the best way to handle this activity?

• How might you approach it?

Case 5

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Case 6—What Does Your Agency Require?

Case 6 (cont’d)

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Case 7—The Situation

• Residential area/greenway in small city

• Sidewalk carries 10 to 12 peds per hour during weekday daylight hours

• Roadway carries about 2,800 vehicles/day

• Posted speed limit 25 mph

• Note speed hump near work area

Questions

• Is the sidewalk shown, an accessible sidewalk?

• How do we handle such situations—immediate versus longer term?

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Case 7—Looking East

Case 7‐‐Continuing East

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Case 7‐‐Approaching the Work Area

Case 7‐‐Close‐Up of Work Area

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Case 7‐‐Close‐Up View Looking West

Thank You for Participating!

Questions?

ada in temporary traffic control: building accessible and ......feasible under existing conditions....

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