1. ADA Requirements
Well-designed sidewalks meet ADA requirements:
Sidewalks should be wide & clear of obstructions (4’ minimum clearance);
Sidewalk surface should be smooth;
Sidewalk surface should be at 2% max cross-slope;
Sidewalk surface should be level and continue across driveways.
Self-explanatory
Separating sidewalks from traffic creates a safer and more pleasant place to walk; and makes it easier to meet all ADA requirements.

2. Sidewalk Slopes 2.0% 8.3% Maximum Cross Slope Maximum Ramp Slope
PROWAG
(R303)
ADAAG
(4.8)
Maximum Cross Slope
Maximum Ramp Slope
2.0%
8.3%
Ramp slopes summary. MAX slope is 2.0%. To allow for construction tolerances, design should be made for a lower slope %.

3. Sidewalk Grade
PROWAG
(R301)
ADAAG
(4.3.7)
Sidewalks adjacent to an existing roadway may follow the running grade of the roadway
5% maximum grade away from roadways
Away from roadways, facilities with grades greater than 5% must be treated as a ramp as outlined in ADAAG:
8.3% max for maximum rise of 30” with 5’ by 5’ level landings between segments
At 8.3% grade, 30” of rise = 30’ long

4. Sidewalk Grade Reducing the impacts of steep or long grades
• Provide signs that indicate:
– grade and length
– alternative routes with lesser grades
• Provide handrails where possible
– A “handrail” for use along a grade can have large openings, unlike a pedestrian rail on a bridge or retaining wall
If the grade cannot be constructed to meet ADA standards, there are methods to mitigate.

5. Sidewalk Grade Chasing Grade
PROWAG
(R303)
Chasing Grade
"R Running Slope. The running slope shall be 5 percent minimum and 8.3 percent maximum but shall not require the ramp length to exceed
4.5 m (15.0 ft)."
When chasing a grade, a ramp slope greater than 8.3% is allowable if 8.3% does not meet the existing sidewalk grade in 15 feet or less. The ramp will be at whatever running grade gets you from the street gutter grade at the curb to the existing sidewalk 15 feet away.

6. Cross Slope
PROWAG
(R303)
ADAAG
(4.8)
Steep cross slopes are more slippery when wet, icy, or snowy

7. Cross Slope Elevation change occurs in the furniture zone
PROWAG
(R303)
ADAAG
(4.8)
Elevation change occurs in the furniture zone
Good Design: Concrete in the pedestrian zone, textured surface in the furniture zone
This provides a visual contrast of surfaces
Watch for bus stops if you use this design so assure ADA standards are still met

8. Sidewalk Slopes
This is a situation where the existing sidewalk had a 8% cross slope. It was corrected to 2%, but this is what happened:

9. Sidewalk Slopes
Vehicles would bottom out going up the driveways. The solution?

10. Sidewalk Slopes ADA BEST PRACTICE
Is this best practice (click) NO! Does this meet ADA (click) YES – they kept a minimum 4’ continuous path.
Follow up question: How could this situation have been avoided?

11. Driveway Crossings PROWAG (R301.4.1) ADAAG (4.8)
When driveways and sidewalks meet, the sidewalk often loses. This can lead to serious wheelchair stability concerns, as well as issues for all sidewalk users.

12. Sidewalk continues at level, at full width, through driveway
Driveway Crossings
PROWAG
(R )
ADAAG
(4.8)
Sidewalk continues at level, at full width, through driveway where there’s separation.
Sidewalk continues at level, at full width, through driveway

13. Easiest way to maintain level passage With separated sidewalks
Driveway Crossings
Easiest way to maintain level passage
Separated sidewalks offer the best opportunity to maintain a level sidewalk at driveways, as the apron is contained in the planter strip.
With separated sidewalks

14. Driveways built like intersections encourage high-speed turns
Driveway Crossings
The pedestrian has the right of way on a sidewalk, but this design leads to high-speed turns off the street.
Driveways built like intersections encourage high-speed turns

15. Driveways built like driveways encourage slow-speed turns
Driveway Crossings
This design makes it clear to driver he is crossing a sidewalk
Driveways built like driveways encourage slow-speed turns

16. Driveway Crossings PROWAG (R301.4.1) ADAAG (4.8)
When the sidewalk is directly behind the curb, there are ways to maintain accessibility.

17. Crosswalks
PROWAG
(R )
ADAAG
(4.8)
Crosswalks are part of the accessible route; normal ADAAG provisions apply (except at mid-block crossings):
2% maximum cross slope
5% maximum running grade
6’ minimum (MUTCD)
Many road designers do not consider crosswalk slopes.
ADA does not require the use of pavement markings.

18. Crosswalks 5% max 2% max PROWAG (R301.4.2) ADAAG (4.8)
The slide displays the maximum slopes.
2% max

19. Side Flares PROWAG (R303.2.1.4) ADAAG (4.7.5)
Side flares must be tapered to 10% if the adjacent area is walkable.
Question: What would make an adjacent area non-traversable?

20. Side Flares
PROWAG
(R )
ADAAG
(4.7.5)
10%
Both examples

21. Side Flares PROWAG (R303.2.1.4) ADAAG (4.7.5)
When designing and constructing sidewalk ramps, remember to allow a 2% cross slope to pedestrians that do not want to cross the street.

22. Side Flares PROWAG (R303.2.1.4) ADAAG (4.7.5)
Adverse tapers lead to safety and accessibility concerns

23. Ramp Alignment PROWAG (R303.3.4)
To many, this is counter-intuitive. It may make sense to align the ramp with the direction of travel of the crosswalk, but ramps MUST BE PERPENDICUALR TO THE GRADE BREAK.

24. Ramp Alignment PROWAG (R303.3.4)
This explains the concern when ramps are not perpendicular to the grade break.

25. Ramp Alignment PROWAG (R303.3.4)
If there is a desire to align the ramp with the direction of travel, this detail creates a perpendicular grade break in the ramp. This meets ADA.

26. Ramp Alignment PROWAG (R303.3.4)
This explains why diagonal curb ramps should be avoided. In this situation, wheelchair users must travel AGAINST TRAFFIC in order to cross the road. This will result in longer crossing time and introduces an unsafe condition.

27. Level Landing All turning movements should be at 2% max
The cross slope of the sidewalk changes into the ramp slope.
All turning movements should be at 2% max

28. Clear Space 4 ft PROWAG (R303.3.6) ADAAG (4.7.10)
A minimum 4-ft by 4-ft space is required (beyond the curb face) inside the crosswalk pavement markings to allow pedestrians to maneuver in the crosswalk.

29. Clear Space PROWAG (R303.3.6) ADAAG (4.7.10)
This photo has a lot of problems, but the emphasis here is that a pedestrian will have to walk out of the marked crosswalk to travel across the street to the right.
QUESTION: What could they do to improved this crossing?