Americans with Disabilities Act

Close-up of wheelchair user on subway platform

MTA Sued Over Platform Gaps

Riders with disabilities say that vertical and horizontal gaps of as much as 7 inches between trains and platforms prevent many riders from safely entering and exiting trains.

October 31, 2022 - Curbed

Aerial view of downtown Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville Approves ADA Compliance Plan

The city plans to make improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and bring its public streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

October 28, 2022 - WLOS

Freshly painted white crosswalk leading to yellow curb cut to sidewalk

Following Lawsuit, Philadelphia to Add or Fix 10,000 Curb Cuts

Disability rights advocates won a settlement that directs the city to improve accessibility on its public roads over the next 15 years.

October 19, 2022 - WHYY

Man crossing crosswalk with seeing eye dog and cane

Opinion: Make Safe, Slow Streets the Default

For people with disabilities or limited mobility, a lack of safe infrastructure can cause significant disruptions, delays, and safety hazards.

October 12, 2022 - Next City

Woman in wheelchair working at a home office desk

How Remote Work is Changing the Playing Field for Workers With Disabilities

The more widespread acceptance of working from home is helping millions of Americans with disabilities get back into the workforce and find better job opportunities.

October 4, 2022 - Bloomberg

Black and white photo of crosswalk

Report: Dallas Needs $54 Million in Sidewalk Ramps and Crosswalk Repairs

The city, which recently adopted a Vision Zero action plan, has one of the nation’s highest pedestrian fatality rates.

June 29, 2022 - FOX 4 News

Curb cuts at an intersection in Neponsit, Queens, New York

Federal Government to Enforce Accessibility Guidelines

Local agencies will soon be tasked with adhering to federal right-of-way accessibility rules: comprehensive guidelines for accessible streets and sidewalks.

December 30, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

New York Subway Coronavirus

Zoning for Transit Accessibility

Using zoning codes to improve accessibility to public transit facilities is a new, but well overdue, idea.

October 21, 2021 - Intelligent Transport

Pandemic Protest

Pandemic Debate: Civil Liberties vs. Individual Liberties

The American Civil Liberties Union stepped into the nation's masking debate in K-12 schools on the side of parents of students with disabilities. They won the first round in the U.S. Southern District Court of Iowa. Mask mandates are permitted again.

September 20, 2021 - Des Moines Register

Al Fresco Streets

'Open Streets' Have an Accessibility Problem

The rush to utilize sidewalk space for outdoor seating and parklets has created new obstacles for people with disabilities.

July 2, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

 Person in a wheelchair entering an inbound Red Line train at Harvard Square

Federal Bill Proposes $10 Billion for Transit Accessibility

The program would fund improvements such as elevators, ramps, and accessible ticketing equipment to bring the nation's transit stations up to ADA standards.

June 1, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

New York City Grocery Store

New Zoning Incentives for Grocery Store Developments Proposed in New York City

Transit accessibility incentives are also included in a package of zoning reforms proposed this week that would provide incentives for grocery store developments in a wider swath of New York City.

March 11, 2021 - Commercial Observer

Wheelchair ramp

What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act?

The effects of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act are visible throughout the built environment—on sidewalks, on buses, and in almost every building and public facility in the country.

February 17, 2021 - plnz-admin

Americans With Disabilities Act

New Orleans Facing ADA Lawsuit for State of Sidewalks and Lack of Curb Cuts

The city of New Orleans' compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act compliance is too little, too late, according to the plaintiffs in a new lawsuit.

February 10, 2021 - NOLA.com

Wheelchair Ramp

Cars, Transit, and the Disabled

Contrary to popular myth, the disabled drive less than other Americans.

January 26, 2021 - Michael Lewyn

Beacon Hill Intersection

Seattle Lacks Accessible Pedestrian Signals At Most Intersections

Processing a growing backlog of requests, Seattle Department of Transportation must prioritize which intersections will be made accessible.

November 23, 2020 - The Seattle Times

Car-Centric Planning

4 Urban Planning Fails We Need to Correct in 2020

Here are four urban planning fails that should be near the top of the list as professionals assess what to address in 2020 and 2021.

September 25, 2020 - Devin Partida

ADA

The ADA Turned 30, but Universal Accessibility Still Far From the Reality

While many cities have shown efforts to implement accessible design since the 1990 adoption of the American Disabilities Act, more must be done.

July 29, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Accesible Mobility

Gaps Remain as Americans With Disabilities Act Approaches its 30th Anniversary

Public transit agencies around the country have made a lot of progress in providing access for people with disabilities, but there is a lot of work left to ensure to the full freedoms of mobility.

June 30, 2020 - The Washington Post

New York Subway Stairs

Saturday Satire: The Accessibility Meeting Is Located Down Three Flights of Stairs

A satirical piece published by McSweeney's calls attention to the remaining work to done in building a truly accessible built environment.

November 9, 2019 - McSweeney's

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