ADA Curb Ramps

H.R. Gray, the national leader in ADA Curb Ramp Consulting Services, has extensive experience working with municipalities and states in providing all necessary professional services including technical, management, administrative, training, and inspection services for curb ramp retrofit programs.  Our staff can assist communities in resolving American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility issues, providing accessible routes and constructing sidewalks and curb ramps that are in compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act in the most economical fashion.

Completed Projects:

  • Franklin County – ADA Technical Assistance
  • City of Upper Arlington – ADA Curb Ramp Program Management
  • City of Westerville – ADA Curb Ramp Program Management
  • City of Worthington – ADA Program Assistance
  • ADA Curb Ramp Training
  • The Ohio State University - ADA Curb Ramp Training – OLTAP

Dispelling the Myths of ADA Compliance

Check out our article in the APWA Reporter (August 2008) ...

1. Understand the ADA
  • ADA compliance (and curb ramp designs) require features for the visually impaired as well as the physically challenged.
  • Simply installing ramps is not good enough.
  • The law defers to local officials to determine what makes a reasonable accommodation. This is open to many angles of interpretation.
  • If no one has raised issues with a community's ADA accessibility to date, the door is still open for future lawsuits.
  • Local advocacy groups can be an important partner in successful ADA compliance projects.
  • Trusted experts can help define "reasonable accommodations," assisting all parties in coming to a satisfactory resolution.
2. There are no standard corners.
If a city's standard drawing for curb ramps consists of one example, that particular design cannot possibly be correctly applied to each curb in that community. Trees, slope difference, signs, fire hydrants, inlets, utility poles and other variables will affect the design of a curb ramp for that particular location. Many cities around the United States have recognized the uniqueness of curbs and have created several standard drawings to categorize different varieties of curb ramps for application on a case-by-case basis. Remember, curb ramps consist of a ramp, landing and flares, each having specified cross-slopes and running slopes. One without the other leads to non-compliance. By treating each project as unique, engineers and city officials can build upon past experiences and continually improve accessibility for all ADA compliance projects.

3. Educate the entire team before an ADA compliance undertaking.
One main culprit in unsuccessful ADA compliance projects is disconnect among involved parties. While the city engineer may be well-read on ADA compliance, such knowledge may not translate through to the design engineer, contractor and inspectors. Before embarking on a compliance project, invest in an ADA compliance training course for your team. They exist, and they provide valuable knowledge on specifically what makes a specific project ADA compliant. Starting an ADA compliance project with all players having the same knowledge can help reduce questions and variances as the design and installation move forward. If everyone on the team has the same compliance goal, mistakes are difficult to miss and a successful outcome is highly likely. For projects in question, utilizing ADA advocacy groups as a partner in any project will help ensure a successful end result. Bringing them into the project as early as possible prevents potential pitfalls as the project is completed.

4. Keep ADA a high priority, regardless of the project.
Curb ramps are only one example of how the ADA impacts the public domain. For any project, it pays to have complete understanding of the ADA's policy on that particular feature before design, planning and execution. Finally, treat every project as unique. As there are no exactly the-same corners in the world of curb ramps, each project is its own. By thoroughly researching similar previous projects, one can learn from mistakes, take positive examples, and create a guide for moving forward. Remembering the uniqueness of each, and following the above reminders can create a method that saves design flaws, and ultimately resources in the future.

Common Mistakes and Challenges to ADA Compliance

What you need to know before putting your next resurfacing project out to bid...

Common Mistakes to ADA Compliance:
  • ADA Compliance (and curb ramp designs) are different for persons with disabilities and persons with visual impairments.
  • Simply installing ramps is not good enough
  • There are no standard corners. Treat each project as unique and build upon past experiences and continually improve accessibility for all ADA compliance projects.
Challenges to ADA Compliance:
  • The law defers to local officials to determine what makes a "reasonable accommodation". This is open to many areas of interpretation.
  • If no one has raised issues with a community’s ADA accessibility to date, the door is still open for future lawsuits.
  • One main culprit in unsuccessful ADA compliance is disconnect among involved parties.

Transition Plans - What are they?

Get more information in the APWA Reporter (April 2010) ...

Q: What is a transition plan?
A: Transition plans identify areas in the community that have barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities and outline the steps to correct them. The plan describes the structural modifications that will be made to correct the barriers found in the self-evaluation process and how it will ensure that programs and services are accessible to persons with disabilities. The purpose of the transition plan is to document the barriers to persons with disabilities and to propose the structural modifications that will be undertaken to provide program accessibility. The transition plan will also outline a timeframe for these modifications. The transition plan should be adjusted yearly so there is always an updated record of the modifications and funding needed. When a transition plan is complete, the municipality simply keeps it on record as there is not a requirement to file it with any government agencies.

Q: Does my community need one?
A: By law, every public entity in the United States with 50 or more employees is responsible for implementing a transition plan. The transition plan has been part of the Americans with Disabilities Act since it was passed in 1990 - 20 years ago - yet many municipalities are still unaware of the requirements or fail to encompass all ADA aspects including sidewalks and curb ramps.

Q: How does our community get started putting a plan in place?
A: There are two key, independent processes in assessing existing ADA issues. The first is to perform a self-evaluation of all existing programs, activities and services, while the second is to implement a transition plan. The basic elements of the transition plan are fairly simple. After the transition plan is developed, it is just a matter of re-evaluating and updating it each year. Elements of the plan include:
  • A list of obstacles to ADA compliance and the procedure for removing and/or accommodating these obstacles.
  • A list of the structural modifications that are needed.
  • The timeline when these changes will be accomplished.
  • Estimated costs of each change outlined in the plan.
  • The name of the staff member who will regularly report on the progress of the plan.
  • At least an annual update and revision of the transition plan.

Keys to Success/Best practices for ADA Compliance


Keys to Success:
  • Remember the uniqueness of each project can create a method that saves design flaws and resources
  • Utilize ADA advocacy groups as a partner in any project will help ensure a successful end result. Bringing them to the project early prevents potential pitfalls.
  • Invest in educating all team members in ADA compliance.
Implement an ADA Training Program:
  • Educate the entire team before undertaking an ADA compliance project
  • An ADA compliance training course provides valuable knowledge about how to make a specific project ADA compliant.
  • Starting an ADA compliance project with all players having the same knowledge can help reduce questions and variances as the project moves forward.
Partnering with ADA Advocacy Organizations:
  • Utilizing ADA advocacy groups as a partner in any project will help ensure a successful end result.
  • Bringing them into the project as early as possible prevents potential pitfalls as the project is completed.
  • These experts can help define "reasonable accommodations" and assist all parties in developing a satisfactory resolution.
ADA Advocacy Organizations: Please contact H.R. Gray for additional information pertaining to any of the listed projects.