HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-2021 Curb Ramp Annual Report & Transition Plan
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2020 – 2021 Curb Ramp Report & Transition Plan
Each year, the City of Iowa City installs and repairs sidewalks and curb ramps throughout the City to improve accessibility to all our community’s residents and visitors and comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This report details the progress made during calendar year 2020 and anticipated for 2021 which furthers pedestrian accessibility in the City. For a full
inventory of Iowa City’s sidewalks and curb ramps, please visit: www.icgov.org/accessibility.
Inventory
From 2012 through 2014, the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC)
conducted an inventory of all sidewalk and curb ramp locations in the greater metropolitan area. Approximately 5,000 ramp locations within Iowa City were evaluated and photographed
by field technicians. This inventory provided a baseline for scheduling and prioritizing curb ramp improvements in Iowa City.
The Iowa City Public Works Department maintains a living database and map of curb ramp
locations within the city. The map includes existing curb ramp locations, data points, and photos as well as potential curb ramp locations to be evaluated. The database is updated
annually after the construction season has ended. There are currently 5,836 curb ramps identified in the database (this includes a significant number of ramps that are on University
property and 72 ramps in University Heights).
Residents may also report missing or insufficient curb ramps for inclusion in the City’s repair and replacement program. Staff collect the details of these requests, conduct a field review,
and documents the process. If the site review verifies that work is required, it is scheduled and
other planned projects in the vicinity are considered for the curb ramp to be paired with to
avoid redundancy. In some instances, the requested site work may not be feasible, in which case staff will communicate what those limiting factors are.
Appendix I lists the criteria used for evaluating and tracking ADA compliance of curb ramps.
Projects & Prioritization
Curb ramp construction, repairs, and replacements are completed through many avenues in
order to maximize opportunities for progress each year:
Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Curb ramps are built into The Annual Asphalt Overlay Program and Annual Curb Ramp Program and completed in conjunction with many other
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scheduled projects including dedicated road construction projects, underground utility
projects, sidewalk infill projects, and parks improvement projects.
New subdivisions/site plans: Curb ramps are installed with the construction of corner lots and adjoining sidewalks, rather than at the time of other public improvements. Thus, these
projects are dependent upon the developer.
Unscheduled Projects: If feasible, the City seeks to incorporate simple curb ramp projects into unexpected utility or roadway repairs that come up.
Curb ramp projects are prioritized based on a comprehensive set of considerations, including:
• Condition of ramp, including slope and domes (see Appendix I).
• Location of ramp, such as whether it is near a public facility or park, school, or other
heavily used public location such as a bus stop.
• Adjoining sidewalk exists but lacks curb ramp(s).
• Pedestrian safety considerations, such as proximity to heavy traffic and whether the
ramp is located at a controlled intersection or a mid-block location.
• Exceptional accessibility needs, such as located in a neighborhood with a high
percentage of disabled or elderly residents.
• Other scheduled projects in the vicinity of the ramp requiring work.
2020 – 2021 Curb Ramp Transition Plan
During the 2020 construction season, a total of 232 curb ramps were repaired, replaced, or installed. This includes 45 new ramps which were part of subdivision development and 187
ramps which were completed as part of City projects. The full 2020 Annual Curb Ramp Project funding was allocated to curb ramp improvements in alignment with the Lower Muscatine
storm sewer project.
2020 Construction Season: Completed Projects
Project Location # Curb Ramps
Subdivision/site plan Tegler 2
Subdivision/site plan Tamarack Ridge 4
Subdivision/site plan Lindemann 3
Subdivision/site plan Stone Bridge Estates 2
Subdivision/site plan Sandhill Estates 2
Subdivision/site plan West Side Estates 12
Subdivision/site plan Cardinal Pointe West 4
Subdivision/site plan General Quarters 2
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Subdivision/site plan Churchill Meadows 4
Subdivision/site plan Cherry Creek 2
Subdivision/site plan Windmill Heights 1
Subdivision/site plan Galway Hills 1
Subdivision/site plan Windsor West 1
Subdivision/site plan Linn/Market 2
Subdivision/site plan Hieronymus Square 2
Subdivision/site plan Capital Subdivision 1
Storm sewer project Windsor Ridge Drainage 1
Park improvement Willow Creek Park 2
Water Main Replacement Spruce St. 2
Street project Burlington/Madison 16
Street project Prentiss St. 5
Street project McCollister Blvd 30
Parking project Capitol/Washington 1
Storm sewer project Lower Muscatine 34
Water Pressure Zoning Various 12
Water Patching projects Various 7
2020 Asphalt Overlay Program Various 77
Total Completed 2020 232
A total of 255 curb ramps are anticipated for repair, replacement, or construction in the 2021
construction season. This includes 253 ramps associated with City projects and 2 expected as part of subdivision development at West Side Estates. Two additional subdivisions have public
improvements in place and could see build out soon, which could add 18 ramps at Anna St./Lindemann subdivision and 13 ramps at Community View.
2021 Construction Season: Anticipated Projects
Project Location # Curb Ramps
Subdivision/site plan West Side Estates 2
Street project Benton St. 50
Street project 1st Avenue/Scott Blvd 16
Street project American Legion Road 26
2020 Asphalt Overlay Program Various 34
2021 Asphalt Overlay Program Various 63
2021 Curb Ramp Project Various 64
Total Anticipated 2021 255
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Appendix I
Iowa City Curb Ramp Condition/Evaluation Criteria
Ramp type:
Left or Right (perpendicular) Center (diagonal)
Under Construction
Detectable warnings: None installed
25% damaged
50% damaged
75% damaged
None Damaged
Truncated domes aligned with crosswalk:
Yes No
Unknown
Common panel slope:
Cross slope over 2% Cross slope less than 2%
No common panel
Ramp running slope:
0-5% 5-8.3%
8.3-11% 11%+
Receiving ramp on opposite side of street:
Yes No
Pavement Condition: Good – no major cracks or uneven areas
Fair – some major cracks or uneven areas
Poor – major cracks or missing and uneven concrete