Consequences of Violating ADA Compliance Rules on Walkways

ADA Compliance Rules

Complying with the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) rules for walkways and sidewalks is imperative if you want to avoid injuries and possible litigation. Each state has its own rules for compliance violations and will impose fines, court costs, and possible legal fees to the owner of any construction that does not comply with the warning system needed to protect visually disabled persons who use your sidewalks.

One example is the state of California, which imposes a fine of $4,000 (minimum) plus all legal fees associated with the lawsuit. It is estimated that ADA violation lawsuits have cost California businesses in excess of $20 million per year since the ADA was enacted in 1992. To avoid this type of litigation, all you have to do is follow the simple rules for safety when installing your sidewalk.

The edging must contain tactile pavers that are detectible by someone using a white cane. They must also be of contracting colors (light colors on dark surfaces and dark colors on light surfaces) so that people with moderate sight impairments will notice the contrasting colors and be warned they are moving from a sidewalk to a vehicle motorway. In addition, they have to be placed a specific distance from the transition and be at least 24 inches wide, to make them easy to see and detect.

To find out more about the different types of tactile pavers and truncated domes, and how they can help you avoid violations, please call ADA Tile at 800-372-0519 for more information.

Complying with Public Rights of Way with Truncated Domes

Truncated Domes

The requirements of the Accessible Public Rights-of-Way (R304 Detectable Warning Surfaces) requires you to have truncated domes wherever there is a meeting of a sidewalk or walkway and a street accessible by motorized vehicles.

The rule states that there must be a detectable warning system for all persons who have a visual disability so they know when the transition from foot traffic to motorized traffic occurs.  They must be detectible both visually (dark on light or light on dark) and tactilely, and must comply with specific measurements. These measurements include:

  • Base diameter of 0.9 inches to 1.4 inches
  • The top diameter must be between 50 and 65 percent of the base diameter
  • The height must be 0.2 inches

There must be tactile paving extending 24 inches in the direction of travel and must include the full width of the curb, landing, or blended transition.  This is to ensure that any visually impaired person using the walkway will have plenty of notice before the end of the curb.  It also provides safety for sighted persons due to the contrasting colors.

If you have any questions or would like more information on using truncated domes to comply with the Public Rights of Way and the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call 800-372-0519 for assistance.

The Most Amazing Roads in the World

Most-Amazing Roads in the World

The Pan American Highway is the longest in the world, covering a total distance of 16,000 miles and accessing 16 different countries, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and Peru. Traveling at an average of 60 miles per hour and driving for 8 hours a day, it would take you over a month to complete the entire trip.

The busiest highway in North America is Highway 401, covering 500 miles and hosting 420,000 vehicles every day. The road does not have sidewalks, but does have overpasses with tactile paving to allow persons with visual disabilities to know when they are close to the edge of the overpass.

The German Autobahns are the fastest highways in the world, with a recommended top speed of 81 miles per hour. It is illegal for anything, such as bicycles, mopeds, or pedestrians, to use the autobahn if they travel under 38 miles per hour.

The Trollstigen is a winding mountain road in Norway that is closed from October to May because winter weather makes the road impassable. It is popular to tourists because it offers views of many waterfalls and bridges in the mountains of Norway.

The Katy Freeway (Interstate 10) is the widest highway in the world. It has 26 lanes and hosts more than 219,000 vehicles daily. There are only a few crosswalks across the highway, and all of them are manufactured with tactile paving to help pedestrians with traction while walking across the vast freeway.

For assistance with ADA compliant detectable tile solutions, please contact ADA Solutions at 800-372-0519 now.