Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

Analysis and Commenta ry o n the 2010 ADAStandards A commenter stated that requiring installation areas, reflecting pools, and transit platform of telephones within the proposed reach edges. The 2010 Standards at sections range requirements would adversely 218, 810.5, 705.1, and 705.2 only require impact public and telephone owners and detectable warnings at transit platform edges. operators. According to the commenter, The technical specifications for the diameter individuals without disabilities will not use and spacing of the truncated domes have telephones that are installed within the reach also been changed. The 2010 Standards range requirements because they may be also delete the requirement for the material inconvenienced by having to stoop to operate used to contrast in resiliency or sound-on- these telephones, and, therefore, owners and cane contact from adjoining walking surfaces operators will lose revenue due to less use of at interior locations. public telephones. The 2010 Standards apply to detectable This comment misunderstands the scoping warnings on developed sites. They do not requirements for wheelchair accessible apply to the public right-of-way. Scoping telephones. Section 217.2 of the 2010 for detectable warnings at all locations Standards provides that where one or more other than transit platform edges has single units are provided, only one unit per been eliminated from the 2010 Standards. floor, level, or exterior site is required to be However, because detectable warnings wheelchair accessible. However, where have been shown to significantly benefit banks of telephones are provided, only one individuals with disabilities at transit platform telephone in each bank is required to be edges, the 2010 Standards provide scoping wheelchair accessible. The Department and technical requirements for detectable believes these scoping requirements for warnings at transit platform edges. wheelchair accessible telephones are reasonable and will not result in burdensome 219 and 706 Assistive Listening Systems obligations or lost revenue for owners and operators. Signs. Section 216.10 of the 2010 Standards requires each covered assembly 218 and 810 Transportation Facilities area to provide signs at each auditorium to inform patrons that assistive listening Detectable Warnings. Detectable warnings systems are available. However, an exception provide a distinctively textured surface of to this requirement permits assembly areas truncated domes. The 1991 Standards at that have ticket offices or ticket windows sections 4.1.3(15), 4.7.7, 4.29.2, 4.29.5, to display the required signs at the ticket 4.29.6, and 10.3.1(8) require detectable window. warnings at curb ramps, hazardous vehicular 108 - Guidance on the 2010 Standards: Titles II and III Department of Justice