Multnomah County has published a plan describing how it will make its transportation facilities accessible to people with disabilities. The draft ADA Transition Plan describes how the County will bring its roads and bridges up to compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. The County is seeking public comment on the plan and has set up an online survey for the public to share feedback on the plan by May 1, 2022. Public feedback will be considered as staff prepare the final plan for the Board of County Commissioners to consider for approval this summer.
Federal rules require public agencies with more than 50 employees to create an ADA transition plan to detail steps needed to make their facilities accessible. This plan addresses the facilities within the public right of way for transportation. The federal ADA legislation was signed into law in 1990. Public agencies were allowed time to make changes to their existing transportation infrastructure over time to bring it into ADA compliance.
The majority of Multnomah County Transportation’s facilities that are covered by the plan are in the east county cities of Fairview, Troutdale and Wood Village, along with some roads in urban unincorporated areas such as Dunthorpe and the County's five Willamette River bridges in Portland.
The ADA Transition Plan describes Multnomah County’s priorities and process for removing barriers to accessibility. The plan identifies 948 curb ramps and signalized crossings that do not comply with the ADA. It sets priorities based on ramp condition, truncated dome presence, and several location factors, such as proximity to libraries and hospitals.
The plan does not list specific timelines for completing individual projects. Schedules for individual projects are determined by available funding. The County plans to bring 54 sidewalk curb ramps into ADA compliance in the fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
The plan:
- Identifies physical barriers for people with disabilities
- Describes methods to remove barriers
- Creates a schedule to address barriers
- Identifies a person responsible for carrying out the plan
For more information, to take the survey or submit comments, visit /adaplan.