Accessible Boulder: ADA Self-Evaluation for Transportation 
City of Boulder: Transportation & Mobility Department
Executive Summary

MISSION STATEMENT
In Boulder, we believe that mobility for people of all abilities is a fundamental right. We strive to provide a transportation system with a variety of safe, accessible and sustainable travel options that connect people with each other and the places they want to go. This builds a stronger community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. 

PROJECT PURPOSE
The ADA Self-Evaluation assess how well the City of Boulder’s transportation system complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Self-Evaluation looks at existing policies and programs related to accessibility and inventories the city’s transportation infrastructure to identify barriers to mobility and opportunities for improvements.  
Development of the ADA Plan follows three guiding principles: 
1. Accessibility
2. Safety
3. Connectivity 

SCOPE OF EVALUATION
The focus of this ADA Self-Evaluation of the city’s transportation system centers on five main facility types which create accessible pedestrian access routes:
1. Sidewalks
2. Curb ramps
3. Multi-use paths
4. Access to transit stops
5. Pedestrian crossings/traffic signals

MAIN BARRIERS TO TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY 
Community feedback gathered during the Self-Evaluation centered on five main types of barriers to transportation accessibility in Boulder:
1. Weather-Related: Winter weather is isolating and limits access to bus stops and key destinations.
2. Transit-Related: Narrow sidewalks make navigation challenging, and transit access to senior centers is needed.
3. Safety-Related: Sharing space with faster modes (like cars and bikes) feels unsafe.
4. Crosswalk Challenges: Concerns include length of pedestrian crossing time, lack of crosswalk striping, and driver inattentiveness.
5. Sidewalk Challenges: Narrow/uneven surfaces, driveway curb cuts and sidewalk blockages present challenges.

MAJOR GAPS & CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED IN CITY POLICIES & PROGRAMS
#1: Inconsistency in Design Standards
* Lack of consistent design standards across city departments
* Inconsistent implementation of accessible facilities at events closures and construction detours
#2: Gaps in Communications/Engagement
* Need for more involvement of the disability community in project planning and policy updates
* Inconsistent communications regarding construction and event closures and detours
#3: Gaps in Data Tracking/Monitoring
* Lack of a central, internal inventory of ADA-related infrastructure in the city
* Missing inventory of ADA compliance (or lack thereof) at transit stops
#4: Funding/Coordination/Prioritization Challenges
* Funding to upgrade transportation features to ADA compliance lags behind the need
* Lack of integration between pedestrian facility improvement programs and long-range planning documents/workgroup planning
* Need for enhanced accessibility-focused collaboration in historic neighborhoods, which may include non-ADA-compliant features, such as flagstone sidewalks

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY
The community engagement process for the development of the ADA Self-Evaluation included public gatherings, presentations to stakeholder groups and workshops where staff and community members could experience maneuvering in a wheelchair.
City staff also developed a questionnaire that was distributed at public meetings and posted on Be Heard Boulder, the city’s online engagement platform. The questions were geared toward gaining a better understanding of where accessibility gaps exist currently and was open for a period of six months from June to December 2019. Over 100 people responded to the survey in person or online.

NEXT STEPS
1. Review the ADA Self-Evaluation Draft 
* Project staff will present the ADA Self-Evaluation findings to community groups for feedback, including the Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
* Project staff will host an Accessibility Panel in Summer 2021 to share findings and invite community discussion.
2. Develop the ADA Transition Plan
* Staff will begin development of the ADA Transition Plan in mid-2021. The Transition Plan will prioritize, plan and draft a schedule to make improvements identified in the Self-Evaluation. 
* The ADA Transition Plan will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) to receive their recommendation to City Council before the end of 2021.

LEARN MORE
* Read the full ADA Self-Evaluation Plan on the project webpage: https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/ada
* Questions? Contact Project Manager and City Transportation Planner Jenny Godwin at godwinj@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-4934

Graphics Descriptions
#1: City of Boulder Transportation Network
System Mileage = ~9,700 curb ramps
~450 miles of sidewalk
~74 miles of multi-use paths
Traffic Signals: 12 Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and 34 Rapid Rectangular Flash Beacons (RRFBs)
Transit Stops: ~600 City/RTD owned

#2: Be Heard Boulder Stats
Launched in June 2019
731 total visits
25 map pins and questionnaire responses
37 document downloads
www.beheardboulder.org/accessible-boulder

Created in April 2021