Using ADA Transition Plans to Improve Pedestrian Access to Transit: A Downtown Atlanta Pilot Study

The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act set requirements for public transit vehicles and transit stations to accommodate persons with disabilities. While the accessibility improvements made by transit agencies have greatly improved mobility options for those with limited mobility, access to services may still be hindered by non-ADA-compliant infrastructure, such as sidewalks, in surrounding areas. Given that many US cities have trouble maintaining pedestrian infrastructure to ADA standards, access to transit is an issue that needs further exploration so as to maximize the utility of accessible vehicles and properly designed transit stops. This paper addresses the need for accessible sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks to enhance accessible public transit in the US through a pilot study in a section of Downtown Atlanta. Researchers examined an area around the Downtown Hotel District, home to conventions, conferences, and many tourists. The study includes an assessment of sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb ramps in the area, as well as observed data on local and commuter bus use, included ridership counts and observations of persons using mobility aids. Findings suggest that crosswalks and curb ramps are the largest obstacles to persons with limited physical mobility in the pilot study area, and that very few bus riders use mobility aids in this area.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE60 Standing Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Grossman, Alice
  • Dyess, Chelsea
  • Mudrinich, Shane
  • Akanser, Alper
  • Guensler, Randall
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Barrier free design; Physical disabilities; Pilot studies; Public transit
• Identifier Terms: Americans with Disabilities Act
• Geographic Terms: Atlanta (Georgia)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01589758
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-6142
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 3 2016 12:10PM