NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 17, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Vic Lund, Traffic Engineer
218-625-3873
St. Louis County seeks feedback on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan for roadway pedestrian facilities
Within St. Louis County's large infrastructure there are 70 miles of sidewalks, 1,510 pedestrian curb ramps and 40 traffic control signals. Ensuring that all of these pedestrian facilities are accessible for people with disabilities is the focus of a plan update being developed by the County's Public Works Department. County engineers have created a draft of the plan and are now seeking public feedback on it
Officially known as the "Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan for County Roadway Public Right-of-Way," the plan includes an evaluation, conducted by county engineers, of pedestrian facilities within the county roadway public right-of-way, and details how St. Louis County will ensure all of those facilities are accessible to all individuals. The document will supplement and expand St. Louis County's existing ADA Compliance Certification.
St. Louis County Public Works will host two public meetings for people to view the draft plan, and meet with the engineering staff to learn more about the plan and provide comments. The meetings will be held:
Tuesday, July 30, 6-7 p.m.
St. Louis County Public Works Office - Pike Lake
4787 Midway Road
Thursday, August 8, 6-7 p.m.
St. Louis County Public Works Office - Virginia
7823 Highway 135
The draft St. Louis County ADA Transition Plan is available for public review and comment through August 31, 2019. The draft plan can be viewed online at stlouiscountymn.gov/ada. Hard copies are available for viewing at the St. Louis County Public Works Office at Pike Lake (4784 Midway Road, Duluth), Virginia (7823 Highway 135, Virginia), Hibbing (1425 East 23 Street, Hibbing) and Ely (2210 East Sheridan Street, Suite 2, Ely). Comments regarding the draft plan can be emailed to ada@stlouiscountymn.gov or written on comment cards that are available at the public works offices.
After the comment period ends, the Public Works Department will review comments received and include in the final plan. The final plan is anticipated to go before the County Board in September 2019 for consideration and final approval.
Accommodations to view and read the draft plan, and submit comments for those with disabilities will be available upon request. Request for accommodations can be made to Melissa Honkola at 218-725-5068 or honkolam@stlouiscountymn.gov.
This plan is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act which, enacted on July 26, 1990, is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability. St. Louis County's ADA Transition Plan does not include pedestrian facilities within the right-of-way of other roadway jurisdictions such as state trunk highways and city streets.
 The draft St. Louis County ADA Transition Plan is available for public review and comment through August 31, 2019
###
|
