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Gig Harbor will spend $6 million to increase access for people with disabilities

Peninsula Gateway - 12/27/2021

Dec. 27—After hearing complaints about steep curbs and difficult crosswalks, Gig Harbor has committed to spending more than $6.2 million to make it easier for people with disabilities to get around town.

The 25-year plan is necessary to bring Gig Harbor into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, city engineer Trent Ward told the City Council during a hearing on Nov. 22.

"We all realize this is a lot of money, but this is a regulation that has been in force for over 30 years," Ward told the council, and a plan is necessary if the city wants to continue to receive state and federal transportation money.

The council approved the plan, formally called the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Planning Program, in a unanimous vote on Dec. 13.

In the immediate future, the city will concentrate on curb ramps in high-traffic areas like downtown and North Gig Harbor. A survey by a consulting firm, Transportation Solutions Inc., identified 416 places where there are either no ramps at all, or ramps that don't meet current ADA standards.

"It is estimated that the City will remove all 416 curb ramp barriers within the next 25-year planning horizon, averaging $250,000 annually," the consultants' report said.

Replacing them will cost an average of $15,000 for each ramp, said Jennifer Saleman of TSI. Some ramps will cost less because they need only minor tweaks, she said.

"It's very easy for a curb ramp to be non-compliant — a fraction of a percent too steep, for instance, or a little too narrow," she explained.

Citizen comments

In November, the city asked residents for their opinions. Those who responded to the survey complained mostly about lack of sidewalks, or sidewalk cracks and bumps that limit mobility, or sidewalks that suddenly end in a switch to gravel.

They also asked for more pedestrian crossings, particularly near the Gig Harbor Library on 45th Street Court and near the Pierce Transit bus stop on Point Fosdick Road.

Some of the comments:

— "Galaxy Theater — The brick walk that goes through the parking lot has a curb. If you are in a power chair and want to follow the walk, you will go off a curb. More than one handicapped person has been ejected from their chair while trying to follow that walkway."

— "On North Harborview after turning from Vernhardsen there's an assisted living facility with trees planted in the sidewalk. These trees don't allow for passage of anyone in a wheelchair or even baby buggies. The sidewalk is much too narrow to have trees planted there."

— "Handicap parking is a mess in this city ... there is limited parking for van access as it takes a eight foot ramp to exit the van."

— "Need more sidewalks — folks walk on shoulder of road — very unsafe. Need some (sidewalks) for disabled vehicles/scooters."

The city has budgeted $500,000 for curb improvements for 2022, and expects to spend another $1 million through 2023, the council was told. The money will come from the existing Pavement Maintenance and Repair program.

An inventory of the city's curb ramps found 329 compliant to current standards, 130 newer ramps that are almost compliant, 231 older ramps that are not compliant, and six instances where there was no ramp at all.

Pedestrian street crossings must also be upgraded, the consultants noted, because newer ADA rules require audible signals and tactile warning surfaces — something like rumble strips, which provide a clue for sight-impaired pedestrians that they are entering a roadway. Many of the city's street crossings will have to be retrofitted with those amenities.

The consultants noted that warning surfaces are missing at several key roundabouts, notably those on Borgen Boulevard at Canterwood Boulevard, Olympus Way and Peacock Hill Drive, and on Point Fosdick Drive at 36th Street.

Suggestions from council

After hearing the consultants' report, councilmembers had some suggestions.

Councilmember Bob Himes, noting that design costs were factored into the estimated $15,000 average cost of curb ramps, wondered if the city could save money by using a few designs as templates.

Councilmember Jim Franich suggested that "since this is going to be an ongoing expense, it might be wise to hire another Public Works employee to concentrate on ADA access, rather than keep hiring consultants."

Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm said both ideas would be considered, but he added that in a city with lots of hills and steep grades, it would be hard to make one or two standard designs fit all.

Franich, who uses a wheelchair due to a motorcycle accident, said his pet peeve was lack of van parking downtown.

"I hope the issue of parking will make its way toward the top" of the priority list, he said, "and not get strung out over the 25-year period this is supposed to happen."

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