The U.S. Access Board has released for public comment draft guidelines—developed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)—to cover pedestrian access to sidewalks and streets, including crosswalks, curb ramps, street furnishings, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way.

The new provisions would supplement the Access Board's ADA and ABA accessibility guidelines, which do not currently provide guidance specifically tailored to public rights-of-way. Among the physical and sensory considerations and constraints the draft guidelines address are access for blind pedestrians at street crossings and wheelchair access to on-street parking.

The Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee, chartered by the Access Board and on whose recommendations the guidelines are based, included representatives from disability organizations, public works departments, transportation and traffic engineering groups, design professionals and civil engineers, government agencies, and standards-setting bodies.

The draft guidelines are available for public comment until October 28, 2002. The Access Board will hold a public meeting on the guidelines in Portland, Ore., on October 8, 2002.

The AIA Government Affairs team is currently reviewing the guidelines draft. If you have comments, please email the AIA national component.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.