Thi ki O t id th BThinking Outside the Bus

Austin Accessibility Assessment IMprovement (AAAIM)Austin Accessibility Assessment IMprovement (AAAIM)

Sheila Holbrook-White, Texas Citizen FundRoberto Gonzalez, Capital MetroL A i Ci f A i

Project funded by

Lee Austin, City of AustinGlenn Gadbois, Gadbois Consulting

Taking AAAIMTaking AAAIM

AAAIMing

City of Austin Sidewalk Master PlanCity of Austin Sidewalk Master Plan

• Developed by COA Public Works in 2009Works in 2009

• Serves as City’s required ADA transition plantransition plan

• Inventory of missing sidewalk segments (3500 linear miles)g ( )

• Sidewalks ranked according to matrix (150 linear miles -hi h i i )highest priority)

• AAAIM’s work provides a check of prioritization andcheck of prioritization and focus for action

Walkway System Short Term IssuesWalkway System - Short-Term Issues

• Maintenance

• Accessibility gaps• Accessibility gaps

• Lack of public awareness of established system to reportestablished system to report and track problem locations

Walkway System - Long Term IssuesWalkway System Long Term Issues

• Continued intra-agency coordination

– Texas DOT

– Capital Metro

T i C t– Travis County

• Funding for large retrofit projectsprojects

• Addressing new development and redevelopmentand redevelopment

Walkway System - Ongoing IssuesWalkway System Ongoing Issues

• Coordination betweenCoordination between COA departments, trade offs between competing interestsinterests

• Attention must be paid to t dititemporary conditions as well as ongoing

• Including needs of users on the “front end”

• Follow-up is essential

COA Comprehensive Plan UpdateCOA Comprehensive Plan Update

• Just getting underwayg g y

• Big Picture policy level plan covering the “Whole Shebang”

• Transportation and Strategic Mobility PlanStrategic Mobility Plan are critical components

• Vision for the futureVision for the future

• Input and feedback are crucial to create an viable plan

Strategic Mobility PlanStrategic Mobility Plan

• Collect input on current system “gaps”

– Advocacy groups such as AAAIM

– Neighborhood groups

– Citizens

• Address problems with all forms of transportationp p

• “Bottom up” process as opposed to “top down”

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P j ki• Project ranking system -Austin specific and mode neutral

• Identify projects that may be implemented over abe implemented over a number of bond cycles

• Input from groups such as AAAIM help to develop data to substantiate priorities

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• Field investigation of all 40 sitesField investigation of all 40 sites

• Looked at priority on Sidewalk Master Plan

• Sorted issues into maintenance, missing accessibilitySorted issues into maintenance, missing accessibility pieces, and long-term infrastructure improvements with improvements proceeding toward resolution

BackgroundBackground

Board Direction - “Identify the number of bus stops notcompliant with current ADA accessibility regulations and develop a plan to bring these into compliance”

• Response – Develop and implement an evaluation of all bus stops (system wide) to confirm accessibility status

• Approach – Photographic survey of all bus stops and general accessibility assessment from review of photographsphotographs

• Community Involvement – Outreach to City of Austin Sid lk T kf ADAPT A tSidewalk Taskforce, ADAPT, Access, etc.

ImprovementsImprovements

• Ongoing - Program to improve bus stops including passenger furniture and accessibilitypassenger furniture and accessibility

• Accessibility entails:

Firm and stable surface– Firm and stable surface

– Minimum dimensions (5 ft. parallel to road and 8 ft. perpendicular to road)p p )

– Maximum 2% slope

– Connects to a sidewalk, road or pedestrian path with an accessible route

• Coordination – Involvement with local private and public entities including the City of Austin and Texasentities including the City of Austin and Texas Department of Transportation

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– Firm and stable surfaceFirm and stable surface

– Includes 5 ft. by 8 ft. pad

– Generally a maximum 2% slopeGenerally a maximum 2% slope

– Connectivity

ProcessProcess

• CMTS Database –maintains bus stopmaintains bus stop information (passenger facilities) including photographs

• Geographic System –software incorporatingsoftware incorporating mapping and tabular data

– Allows integration intoAllows integration into other software systems

– Catalogue guides ongoing improvement program

ProcessProcess

• Stops with known accessibility usage/needs

– Customer/Community engagement

• Move and relocate passenger infrastructure (benches, litter containers, poles, etc.)

• Highest ridership stops/corridors first (dovetails with upcoming bus stop sign project) - for efficiency, other

proximal stops will evaluated at the same timeproximal stops will evaluated at the same time.

• Community Involvement – Outreach to City of Austin Sidewalk Taskforce ADAPT Access etcSidewalk Taskforce, ADAPT, Access, etc.

PolicyPolicy

Multi - Year Program

• Funding required for all improvements approximately $15,000,000

• Annual Funding commitment ($1,500,000 allocated for FY 2010)allocated for FY 2010)

• Improvements to be made efficiently and in conjunction with potential major route systemconjunction with potential major route system adjustments (i.e. Downtown Austin Plan, Comprehensive Operational Analysis, etc)Comprehensive Operational Analysis, etc)

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• More “on-the-ground” information analyzed by users is helpful.

• Users serve as a “double check”Users serve as a double check

• People support solutions they helped create.

• To maximize efficiencies and mutual benefits, collaboration needs to occur throughout gproject stages from planning, design, programming, through construction.