I have some comments about the proposed Guidelines on Accessible Rights-of-Way.

Truncated domes in cross-walks. These are not "Good Things", as Martha Stewart might say, for the following reasons:

• These are very difficult to get properly constructed because they are raised. Improperly built domes invariably end up being too high and become a trip hazard. The "stick-on" variety get scraped up by snow-clearing efforts in the winter, and those that aren't scraped up make it necessary to apply something else to finish the clearing job because of the amount of residual snow.
• They also make it hard to negotiate in a wheelchair. My mom just simply can't overcome the valleys created by the domes, and the track width of her chair can't straddle the domes. When I push her, we can make it OK, but because of her arthritis, it's uncomfortable to her aching hips and knees. The capabilities of the infirm must be included in the design, not just healthy individuals.
• Driveway slopes to private homes. I realize that this topic is not directly covered in the Public R/W document, but it is an issue that may need to be considered for ADA - compliant buildings. New homes in the Charlotte area are being constructed with steep driveway slopes - up to 25%
• in neighborhoods that are nominally flat to gently rolling. Otherwise acceptable homes are off-limits to those individuals that are mobility-challenged. Getting the mail from the mailbox would be a tremendous challenge on a driveway that steep.

Thanks for your consideration.

Doug

Douglas W. Morris, P.E.
Traffic Engineer

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