The 2010 ADA Standards have existed as the enforceable standard for ADA covered facilities for well over a decade and were preceded by the 1991 ADA Standards or older UFAS Standards. Buildings designed and constructed before these standards were adopted by the US Department of Justice were supposed to be designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. Older buildings built before the ADA became law are supposed to be altered to conform to these standards as best as they can when they are altered. These standards are intended to be applied to sites with defined boundaries, such as an office building, a grocery store, or even a public park. Where these standards are difficult or impossible to be applied to is the public-right-of-way.
One of the main problems with trying to apply the 2010 ADA Standards to the public-right-of-way is the fact that you cannot reasonably expect to flatten a city as you can reasonably expect to flatten a parking lot on a site. The topographical nature of the public-right-of-way creates unique challenges that the ADA Standards were not meant to address. Because of these inherent challenges, the US Access Board created specific guidelines intended to address the sometimes divergent needs of people with disabilities and vehicles who all share the public-right-of-way.
The Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) is a relatively new access standard intended to be applied to the public-right-of-way. This includes the design of public sidewalks, shared use paths, on-street parking, crosswalks, passenger loading zones, and transit stops. As of the time of this publication, these guidelines are not enforceable standards, except for transit stops and other DoT (Department of Transportation) ADA covered facilities. However, these guidelines serve as a best practice recognized by the Federal Highway Administration. PROWAG solves a lot of issues created when trying to apply the ADA Standards to a public-right-of-way. Today, I want to highlight many key differences between PROWAG and the 2010 ADA Standards.
This will not be an exhaustive list of differences, as PROWAG has requirements for many elements not mentioned in the 2010 ADA Standards, such as accessible pedestrian push buttons. What I will do is to compare elements that exist within both standards to compare how the similar elements are different in key ways, such as accessible routes compared to pedestrian access routes, which serve the same function. Consider this simply a highlight of the differences, since in-depth understanding should be sought through the resource material.
Accessible Route v Pedestrian Access Route
2010 ADA Standards: Accessible Routes- 36-inch minimum width, narrowing to 32-inches is allowed for short distances, allowed to slope up to 5% grade before it is considered a ramp (requiring handrails/edge protection), 1:48 (2.1%) maximum cross slope.
PROWAG: Pedestrian Access Route (PAR)- 48-inch minimum, narrowing not permitted, allowed to match the grade of a street PAR is attached to, cross slope maximum 1:48 to 1:20 (2.1%-5%) depending on specific conditions.
Curb Ramps
2010 ADA Standards: 1:12 (8.3%) max slope, top landing required, diagonal curb ramp permitted, detectable warnings not required on a site.
PROWAG: Slope may exceed 1:12 (8.3%) if curb ramp meets 15ft minimum length to avoid “chasing grade,” top landing required if change of direction provided, diagonal curb ramps should only be used where it’s technically infeasible to provide parallel/perpendicular curb ramps, detectable warnings are required.
Parking
2010 ADA Standards: Only perpendicular parking requirements are specified, 1 in every 6 (or fraction of) accessible parking spaces should be van accessible, access aisle permitted on either side of vehicle, access aisle must be provided, length of a parking space not specified.
PROWAG: Parallel, angled, and perpendicular requirements are provided, van accessible parking is not specifically scoped but the technical requirements of accessible parking account for van access, access aisle location on passenger side only in angled and controlled pull-in direction parking, access aisle may be conditionally omitted (on-street), parallel parking specified length of at least 24ft.
Passenger Loading Zones
2010 Standards: Required at medical and long-term care facilities, valet parking, and mechanical access parking garages.
PROWAG: Required only where permanently designated.
Protruding Objects
2010 Standards: Post-mounted objects considered a protruding object at beyond 12-inches beyond a post.
PROWAG: Post-mounted objects considered a protruding object at beyond 4-inches from a post.
Reach Ranges
2010 Standards: Obstructed forward reach permitted.
PROWAG: Obstructed forward reach is not permitted.
Stairs
2010 ADA Standards: Access requirements applied when stairs are part of a means of egress, no visual contrast requirement.
PROWAG: Required where located as part of a pedestrian circulation path, visual contrast requirement for the tread.
Benches
2010 Standards: Intended for changing clothing and required in changing, fitting, and locker rooms.
PROWAG: Intended for sitting such as within a transit stop.
This list of differences is meant to be informative. Further explanation of the requirements for these elements can be found on the US Access Board’s website for the 2010 ADA Standards and PROWAG. More detailed guidance can be found for the 2010 Standards using the Access Board’s ADA Standards guides, by contacting the US Access Board (TA@access-board.gov or ROW@access-boad.gov), or by contacting your regional ADA Center (800.949.4232).