Accessibility

A crowd of people boarding Boston's green line in an underground subway station.

Boston has spent millions making the Green Line more accessible — and there’s no end in sight

While the city has invested millions into expanding and adding platforms to the Green Line to make it more accessible, new train cars set to arrive next year will be too tall for disabled passengers to board without raising the current platforms.

September 22, 2026 - Boston Globe

A wheelchair ramp provides access to a building.

HUD sets new time limit on Fair Housing accessibility complaints

Previously, complaints could be filed as long as the violation remained.

September 6, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Giant metal globe sculpture in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York City.

Historic Queens park is getting a $120M upgrade

The borough's largest park will undergo significant upgrades for accessibility, flood mitigation and historic preservation.

August 8, 2026 - Secret NYC

Close-up on pedestrian button with "LOush button for audible signal" below silhouette of person with cane.

Report: Chicago surpassed its legal mandate for accessible pedestrian signals — but none passed inspections

Gaps in accessibility, placement and functionality highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance.

July 30, 2026 - Smart Cities Drive

Woman in wheelchair sits at table next to window on Amtrak train.

Amtrak makes over 160 stations fully accessible

Upgrades include new elevators, signage and accessible restrooms.

July 28, 2026 - Railway Supply

Visually impaired woman in white shirt sits at computer using screen reader device.

Look North: 3 ways Canadian planners are crushing digital accessibility

Although accessibility regulations look similar in the United States and Canada, our northern neighbors have managed to make planning materials more usable for people with disabilities. Here's what we can learn from them.

July 27, 2026 - Jonathan Katz-Ouziel

Man in wheelchair entering paratransit van on ramp.

DC's robotaxi bill stays silent on accessibility

A 24-page bill addresses safety, permitting and consumer rights — but fails to mention wheelchairs or accessible vehicles.

July 19, 2026 - The Weekly Driver

White on black restroom sign with symbols and text in Thai.

This Thai city is the 'global capital of toilet access'

The Global Public Toilet Index ranks cities by per capita public restrooms.

July 15, 2026 - QS Supplies

Two small white robots at crosswalk in Hoboken, New Jersey.

A robot army is assessing accessibility and mobility on Hoboken's streets

The city is deploying robotic scanners to identify gaps in the city's sidewalks, curb cuts and other mobility infrastructure.

July 13, 2026 - TAPinto Hoboken

Public restroom building in park in Atlanta, Georgia.

Study: 55% of Atlanta restrooms are inaccessible to the public

More than half of bathrooms that should be publicly accessible are not available, according to a study from Georgia State University.

July 8, 2026 - Georgia State University News

Woman in black wearing helmet on bicycle with man in white shirt and tie and helmet riding on bike behind her with bus visible in background in Paris, France.

Ten extraordinary women making cities work better for everyone

A new book profiles women leaders shaping the future of modern cities. These are some of their stories.

May 22, 2026 - Melissa Bruntlett

Yellow delivery robot rolling across curb cut onto painted crosswalk.

West Hollywood makes delivery robots paying road users

Cities are looking for creative ways to regulate food delivery robots, in some cases putting them to work gathering data for ADA compliance or collecting revenue for sidewalk maintenance.

May 20, 2026 - Next City

Yellow sign for audible crossing signal on post at intersection in New York City with one person walking on sidewalk in background.

90% of NYC Intersections Lack Audible Crossing Signals for Blind Pedestrians

People with vision impairments rely on a complex network of tactile and audible signals to navigate cities.

March 9, 2026 - Bloomberg CityLab

People walking and biking on sidewalk in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Why Complete Streets Design Benefits Everyone

Every driver is also a pedestrian at the start and end of their trip, but transportation systems often don’t acknowledge that.

February 2, 2026 - Fast Company

Group of workers in yellow and orange safety vests and hard hats stand in street in Los Angeles next to work truck protected by row of orange cones.

Commentary: LA’s ‘Large Asphalt Repair’ Policy Privileges Drivers, Endangers Others

A new policy to perform spot repairs rather than resurfacing entire streets lets the city skirt requirements to install accessibility and pedestrian infrastructure.

December 15, 2025 - Streetsblog LA

Yellow food delivery robot with cartoonish eyes on side rolling down sidewalk in Chicago, Illinois.

Delivery Robots are Taking Over Chicago Sidewalks, Alarming Residents

Residents have reported that the food delivery bots have forced people off sidewalks into busy streets and collided with bicyclists.

December 12, 2025 - Block Club Chicago

White Denver RTD on-demand microtransit van on street.

Denver Advocates Sue RTD for Charging People With Disabilities for On-demand Transit

The suit argues the agency is violating the rights of Americans with disabilities while lowering fares for other riders.

December 11, 2025 - The Denver Post

"Sidewalk Closed" signs on a-frames on roped-off sidewalk in Chicago.

Chicago Residents Sue City Over Inaccessible Sidewalks

The suit alleges the city has failed to create a “coordinated, proactive system” for complying with ADA and ensuring accessibility on the city’s sidewalks and crosswalks.

September 15, 2025 - Disability Rights Advocates

Young boy wearing knapsack sits in front of yellow fence looking at black and white cow at Minnesota State Fair.

Cities Can be a Sensory Nightmare. Minnesota is Trying to Change That.

A state-wide effort to build 10,000 sensory-friendly spaces aims to set a new standard for inclusive design.

September 8, 2025 - Gina Brady

Man on bike looking back at camera with black car blocking bike lane in front of him.

Chicago Pilot Would Keep Bike and Bus Lanes Clear — Without the Police

A proposal supported by many city officials and road safety advocates would shift right-of-way enforcement to ‘Rapid Response Aides’ to free up police resources and clear blocked lanes more quickly.

September 7, 2025 - Streetsblog Chicago

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

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