Sidewalk Cross-Slope Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Literature Review

It is the long-term intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that publicly available services along a public street be accessible to people with disabilities via a continuous, unobstructed pedestrian circulation network. When altered, almost all streets, with the exception of rural roads and highways, will be required to provide an accessible sidewalk wherever feasible. Existing research and science related to sidewalk cross-slope requirements are described in detail. The history and spirit of the ADA are summarized, relevant court decisions are discussed, and key ADA cross-slope-related requirements are identified (along with applicable caveats). Current practices rely on a combination of strict, but limited, physical solutions and some programmatic solutions, about which there is much uncertainty as to how and when they should be applied. Very little existing work considers the effort and other access differences that result from changes in cross slope. Thus, additional research is needed to ensure sound policy regarding user access to transportation facilities.