Key Takeaway: Current accessibility guidelines and standards do not cover all design challenges encountered in San Francisco. There is an ongoing need to develop more comprehensive guidelines and standards to simplify accessibility planning and reduce costs.
Current Standards and Regulations
To ensure projects are accessible, the SFMTA follows various design requirements including federal, state, local and internal regulations and resources:
- Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- The California Building Code
- The San Francisco Better Streets Plan
- The SFMTA's Guidelines for Accessible Building Blocks for Bicycle Facilities
- Walk San Francisco’s Getting to the Curb guide.
Despite these guidelines, not all design conditions on San Francisco's busy streets are addressed, making it challenging to achieve all project goals using existing standards.
For instance, the desire to maintain accessible loading for Paratransit vehicles on a one-way street may conflict with the need to construct a safe bike lane. Such a scenario may require deviations from standard bike lane designs, such as the location of the bike lane or standard buffer widths between the bike lane and parked cars.
Reviewing Each Project for Accessibility
The SFMTA's commitment to universal design goes beyond legal requirements, necessitating case-by-case reviews of every project.
During these reviews, different agency divisions and city departments may have differing opinions on project design. These discrepancies can lead to design changes later in development, increasing costs and complicating feasibility. Developing more comprehensive guidelines to address recurring challenges could simplify planning.
Budget Constraints
Projects are also often constrained by budget limitations, leading to instances where accessibility improvements beyond minimal compliance are not always feasible.
Operating from a standard set of accessibility guidelines makes projects more efficient and increases the likelihood that accessibility benefits beyond minimum compliance standards will be included.
Implementing PROWAG
The final Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) were issued in September 2023 by the U.S. Access Board and will become enforceable when adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Transportation.
As we begin to apply and implement the new PROWAG standards during alterations and new construction, identifying recurring issues is crucial to developing shared guidelines or process improvements. This will ensure consistent, user-friendly, and accessible street designs regardless of the implementing division or agency.