ADA References

Caltrans References:

Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual - Chapter 11, Design Standards, Section 11.2, Statewide Design Standards for Local Assistance Projects, Pedestrian Facilities. This chapter contains up-to-date information to supplement the Caltrans Highway Design Manual(HDM). The HDM will be updated to reflect these changes.
Caltrans Highway Design Manual - Topic 105, Pedestrian Facilities. This Chapter is planned for an update.
Caltrans Standard Plans - Current Standard Plan A88 has Curb Ramp Design Details. Current Standard Plan A87 has an accessibility design detail around driveways. Additional Curb Ramp and Curb Cut details are forth coming in the July 1999 New Standard Plans.

When considering Federal regulations, State and local governments are required to comply with those contained within the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) .
Private-funded improvements are required to comply with the Federal ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) .
The UFAS and ADAAG (which are essentially the same) are available from the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (commonly referred to as the Federal Access Board), telephone (voice) 800-872-2253, (TTY) 800-993-2822 or order via the Internet at http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/index.htm.
Accessible Rights-of Way: A Design Manual. This is a new joint publication of the US Access Board, FHWA, US Department of Transportation and US Department of Justice. It will update or augment the UFAS and AADAG and is due to be released in Fall 1999. Draft copies of this document have been sent to each district HB71 Curb Ramp Coordinator. Hopefully the official publication will be available through the Access Board at the numbers and Internet address in the paragraph above.
Accessible Sidewalks: Design Issues for Pedestrians with Disabilities - Video (1997) - A copy of this video has been sent to each district HB71 Curb Ramp Coordinator.

The State of California has also adopted regulations specifying that all buildings, structures, sidewalks, curbs and related facilities constructed in California by the use of State, county or municipal funds, or the funds of any political subdivision of the State, shall be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. The Division of the State Architect (DSA) is given responsibility for developing regulations and standards to ensure full accessibility. These regulations and standards are to prescribe no lesser a standard of accessibility or usability than provided by the Accessibility Guidelines prepared by the Federal Access Board (see above) to implement the ADA (ref: Government Code Section 4450).
Most State statutes addressing accessibility are included in Part 2, Title 24, California Code of Regulations (later referred to as "Title 24"). Other statutes are incorporated in various other State Codes. These various statutes cover the broad subject of accessibility, with little specific reference to transportation-related facilities. Specific sections of the State Building Code, which is included in Title 24, addresses Site Accessibility. These sections are interpreted to apply to transportation-related facilities, such as curb ramps and parking.

California Accessibility Reference Manual, which includes all of the above-referenced Code sections, is due to be released in May 1999. Copies can be requested by calling the Builder’s Book, Inc. at (800) 273-7375.
CalDag: California Disabled Accessibility Guide Book, which provides a design checklist and discussions on the differences between State and Federal Law is available now. Copies can be requested by calling the Builder’s Book, Inc. at (800) 273-7375.
These and ot her references are listed on the Division of State Architect Internet site .

Department of Justice Internet Sites:
Common ADA Errors and Omissions in New Construction and Alterations: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/error.htm
ADA Regulations and Technical Assistance Materials
World Wide Web site of the U.S. Access Board , also known as the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. These are the people who develop the design guidelines for the Department of Justice.

This page last updated January 15, 2003