Guidelines for Prioritizing Curb Ramp Retrofits Under The Americans With Disabilities Act
Source: Virginia Transportation Research Council
In order to bring curb ramps into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) invests millions of dollars each year in retrofitting them. In 2019, VDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division (TED) completed an inventory of accessibility barriers, finding that approximately 80% of VDOT’s 80,000 curb ramps were noncompliant. As part of its ADA Transition Plan, VDOT has developed a plan to retrofit these curb ramps. To prioritize ramp improvements, TED uses a functional condition rating that is based on ramp width, type of detectable warning surface, and material condition.
The purpose of this study was to identify—for a curb ramp improvement program—the best practices in prioritization, investment, and program management. The scope was limited to curb ramps, with the prioritization of sidewalk improvements generally falling outside that scope.
