Self Evaluation and Transition Plan Project

ADA Title II regulations require state and local governments to ensure that each of their programs, services, and activities, when viewed in their entirety, are accessible to and usable by qualified individuals with disabilities. City programs may include recreation activities, use of City facilities and parks, City Council meetings, law enforcement, various permits, public sidewalks, public records, tax collection (sales, use, property etc.), municipal court, volunteer opportunities, virtual programs, and many other services and activities. In addition, the public can access many of the City’s services and programs online.

Phase II: Ensuring Compliance with ADA Standards and PROWAG for Public Right-of-Way - In Progress

ADA Title II regulations require state and local governments to ensure that each of their programs, services, and activities when viewed in their entirety, are accessible to and usable by qualified individuals with disabilities. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have adopted the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) as best practices. These guidelines ensure that pedestrian access routes within the public right-of-way are accessible and compliant. 

Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Process for Public Right-of-Way 

The Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan process is intended to evaluate access to public right-of-way facilities from the perspective of people with disabilities, acknowledging the varying abilities among individuals. To ensure compliance with ADA standards and PROWAG, the City of Lakewood has hired an outside consultant to evaluate the public right-of-way and identify barriers to individuals. 

During this evaluation, you may see team members utilizing a variety of devices in the field, including: 

• pathMet Device: The PATHMET is a multi-sensor profiling tool that utilizes lasers, high-resolution cameras, and GPS. It provides cities with objective planning insights that are laser-accurate and relevant to their goal of ADA compliance. The data and images captured by pathMet are critical to creating a safer, more navigable environment. Its Route Accessibility Index helps cities prioritize improvements, and individuals map their best travel routes. 
• curbMet Device: The CURBMET is used for curb ramp assessments. It accomplishes the task 4-6 times faster and cheaper than manual methods while providing engineering-grade accuracy, app-based integration, and geo-located data. CurbMet was developed in partnership with the engineering professionals at PennDOT, and it delivers the best output in the industry. 

• Traditional Tools: In addition to advanced technology, the team also uses tape measures and smart levels to ensure comprehensive evaluations. 

Transition Plan Requirements 
The transition plan for the public right-of-way must detail: 

• The specific barriers identified in the public right-of-way 
• The method used to remove these barriers. 
• The schedule for taking the necessary steps

• The individual responsible for the implementation 

Ensuring Accessible Public Right-of-Way 
The public right-of-way must comply with the 2010 ADA Standards and adhere to PROWAG for best practices. This includes ensuring that pedestrian access routes are accessible to individuals with disabilities by providing: 

• Curb Ramps: Properly designed and located curb ramps to facilitate transitions between sidewalks and streets. 
• Detectable Warning Surfaces: Textured surfaces to alert visually impaired pedestrians to the presence of street crossings and hazardous drop-offs. 
• Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Signals with audible and tactile features to assist pedestrians with visual and hearing impairments. 
• Clear Pathways: Ensuring sidewalks and pathways are free of obstructions and have adequate width and surface condition. 

• Accessible Bus Stops: Ensuring bus stops are designed and maintained to be accessible, recognizing the shared responsibility of the City of Lakewood and the Regional Transportation Department (RTD) in this effort. 

By adhering to the 2010 ADA standards and PROWAG, and through thorough evaluation and planning, the City of Lakewood aims to provide an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can access and benefit from the public right-of-way. 

Phase I: Policy Review, Staff Knowledge, Web Assessment, Physical Access (Parks and Facilities) - COMPLETE

PHASE I of the SETP Project is inclusive of Accessibility relating to City Policies, Staff Knowledge, Web Accessibility, as well as Physical Accessibility. Outcomes of the PHASE I SETP include a report inclusive of recommendations relating to ADA Mandated Policies, training recommendations as well as comprehensive reports to digital and physical accessibility findings. The City of Lakewood has contracted with Meeting the Challenge in the completion of PHASE I of the SETP Project. 

Project Timeline 

• Conduct an inventory and review of the city’s policies (Completed 2023) 
• Interview a comprehensive cross-section of the city’s management team (Completed 2023) 
• Conduct an ADA knowledge survey of the city’s employees (Completed 2023) 
• Conduct a digital assessment in addition to user testing on the city’s websites (Completed 2023) 

• Physically measure each of the city’s facilities and parks - when structural changes to facilities are needed to achieve program accessibility, Title II regulations require a transition plan setting forth the steps necessary to complete such changes. (Completed 2023)