PennDot ADA Curb Ramps

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) provides safe access to highway intersections to Americans with disabilities when using our public sidewalks. If they fall or have some type of accident at an ADA Curb Ramp, all they have to do is get a lawyer and sue the state. Their attorney will come out and investigate all the details of the ADA Curb Ramp. If it was built slightly out of spec., they have a lawsuit against the state and will probably easily win their case. That is why the PennDot district officials stress on the fact that these ADA Curb Ramps must be built to stringent standards.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Designing and constructing pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way that are not usable by people with disabilities may constitute discrimination.

If The ADA Curb Ramp was built to spec., the lawyer will have to find another way to win his case, or simply not have a case.

Pop-Quiz: Who knows more about ADA Curb Ramps then PennDot and/or the Federal Highway Administration?

Answer: Lawyers

Lawyers have become experts on this subject so that they are able to easily win large settlements for their clients.

Contractors and construction inspectors need to take the time to construct these ramps as perfectly to the letter of the specifications and standards as possible.

Basic Requirements for ADA Curb Ramps

• RC-67M and DM-2 Chapter 6
• Surface must be Stable, Firm, and Slip Resistant
• Elevation differences must be less than 1/4”
• Grate openings or gaps must be less than 1/2”
• Ramp slopes12:1 (8.33%) or flatter
• Detectable Warning Surface (DWS)
• Minimum 3′-0” wide accessible path (5′-0” for new construction)
• Cross slope of 2% (Max) and longitudinal slope of 5% (Max)

ADA Curb Ramps Design Considerations for Pedestrian Pushbutton Access

• For existing signal systems, provide access to the existing pushbuttons, to the maximum extent feasible.
• For new signal systems, the best location for pedestrian push buttons are on signal poles. If the pedestrian is more than 10 feet from the button at the crossing, then a new pedestal is the required action. (Place it in a location that is at the edge of the pedestrian pathway, rather than, in the middle of the pedestrian pathway so that pedestrians don’t walk into it)
• Each quadrant must be evaluated for the best design solution. Consider the needs of all pedestrians

CS-4401

• The form was revised in January 2011. The change provides an area for comment on page 2 for information that may be missing or that needs explanation.
• After the curb ramp is constructed, complete the CS-4401 and send the form electronically to the District ADA Coordinator in Excel format.
• CS-4401 forms are kept on the Department servers for future use in litigation. These forms are required to be filled out by inspectors according to the POM (part C, Section 6, page 10-1)

TIF Forms

• Technically Infeasibility Forms are required when a curb ramp does not meet requirements of RC-67M
• Tolerances
• TIF should be completed before proceeding with the construction of the ramp. The TIF Form is included in the CS-4401 Excel spreadsheet. Open the CS-4401 Excel spreadsheet, look across the bottom tabs for various sheets with in the workbook.
• Send TIF electronically to the District ADA Coordinator. Complete all information on the TIF Form that justifies building the ramp non standard