News from New York State Department of Transportation

For more information contact: Charles Carrier, 518-457-6400

NYSDOT Releases Statewide Draft ADA Management Plan

Public Comment Encouraged On Plan for Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

ALBANY, NY (09/03/2008; 0944)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the availability of draft Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Management and Transition plans for public review and comment.

The ADA Management and Transition plans identify the federal regulations that affect NYSDOT, describe how they are being addressed to ensure compliance with the ADA standards, and identify possible improvements.

"Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is essential to providing a safer transportation infrastructure that allows mobility for individuals with disabilities. It is equally important that we ensure access for employees and members of the public to our facilities," Commissioner Glynn said. "This self-assessment will give the Department of Transportation a clear view of where we are now and where improvements can and should be made."

The draft ADA Management Plan summarizes NYSDOT's internal and public policies regarding how the ADA affects the department's facilities, operations and services, how the department complies with applicable federal regulations and where improvements could be made. This document provides one central location to identify all of the related information and responsibilities about ADA compliance.

Federal regulations also require the preparation of a Transition Plan to identify physical obstacles and planned accessibility improvements to facilities. A first phase of inventories of facilities and preliminary assessment of accessibility concerns has already begun and will include data collection to develop an inventory of location and condition of sidewalks, ramps and crosswalks. Subsequent phases will provide additional detail about the state of NYSDOT facilities and scheduled improvements.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by public entities in the course of their providing "services, programs and activities" to the public.

The draft ADA Management and Transition plans are available for public review and comment until September 29. Both draft plans will be updated after receipt and review of public comments.

Hard copies of the draft plans are available during normal business hours at any of NYSDOT's 11 regional offices. Electronic copies of the documents are available at NYSDOT's Web site at https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/adamanagement/introduction. Comments can be submitted on-line to ada@dot.state.ny.us or in writing to NYSDOT Civil Rights Bureau, 50 Wolf Road, 6^th Floor, Albany, NY 12232, Attention: ADA.

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