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 Austin
 Transportation Criteria Manual
 Section 4. SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS

  § 4.3.0. CURB RAMPS

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  • Sidewalks constructed to the requirements herein shall include a curb ramp wherever an accessible route crosses a curb. Curb ramps shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the City of Austin Standard Details, the City of Austin Standard Specifications and the requirements of the American With Disabilities Act (ADA), Appendix A to Part 36-Standards for Accessible Design, Section 4.7 Curb Ramps. Where these standards conflict, the stricter design criteria shall apply and take precedent.

    Prior to subdivision acceptance by the City, all concrete and/or paver stone work within the right-of-way shall be constructed in accordance with the design details shown on the drawings. This includes Curb Ramps located at the radii PC and PT of the intersection, which shall be constructed in accordance with Standard Details 432S-5A and 432S-3. In locations where there are "Tee" type intersections, the cross of the Tee (opposite the intersection street) shall have a ramp constructed in line with the ramp across the street.

    The preferred alignment for new curb ramp construction is perpendicular to the vehicular flow of traffic and perpendicular to the curb, as indicated by the Standard Details. However, the Standard Details shall not be used in the ramp design at signalized intersections.

    The following curb ramp guidelines have been adapted from the Standards and Specifications of Article 7, Article 601B, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, Elimination of Architectural Barriers available from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and from the ADA Accessibility Guidelines For Buildings and Facilities.

    A.

    Curb ramps shall be located so that they are not obstructed by parked vehicles and shall not intrude into vehicular traffic lanes.

    B.

    The least possible slope shall be used for any curb ramp. Curb ramp slope shall not exceed a 1:12 vertical rise to horizontal run ratio. Curb ramp wings shall not exceed a 1:10 vertical rise to horizontal run ratio (See Figure 4-1 in Appendix H of this manual). Curb ramps to be constructed on existing sites or in existing buildings or facilities may have slopes and rises as allowed in Table 4-2 if space limitations prohibit the use of a 1:12 slope or less. A flat landing area with a minimum dimension of 48 inches (1.2 meters) deep and as wide as the ramp area must be located at the top of each curb ramp. In existing right-of-way or street locations where existing property lines do not allow for this 48 inch (1.2 meters) deep landing area, the wings or flared sides of the ramp must have a slope of 1:12 maximum. (See Figure 4-1 in Appendix H of this manual)

    C.

    Sloped surfaces shall be stable, firm and slip-resistant. Ramp surface shall have a detectable warning surface system integral to the walking surface.

    D.

    Detectable warning system shall consist of raised truncated domes with a diameter of nominal 0.9 in. (23mm), a height of nominal 0.2 in. (5mm) and a center-to-center spacing of nominal 2.35 in. (60mm) and shall contrast visually with adjoining surfaces, either light-on-dark, or dark-on-light. (See Figures 4-3 and 4-4 in Appendix H of this manual). The coloring agent used to provide contrast shall be an integral part of the walking surface.

    E.

    The width of the curb ramp shall be a minimum dimension of 48 inches (1.2 meters) exclusive of flared sides or wings. On existing sidewalks only, where 48 inches (1.2 meters) is not feasible, a minimum width of 36 inches (0.9 meters), exclusive of flared sides or wings shall be allowed. If a curb ramp is located where pedestrians must walk across the ramp, or where it is not protected by handrails or guardrails, it shall have flared sides. Curb ramps with returned curbs may be used where pedestrians would not normally walk across the ramp. See Figure 4-5 in Appendix H of this manual.

    F.

    Curb ramps shall be designed so that the "cradle" will allow wheelchair footrests to clear the adjoining surface during transition. The minimum angle from surface to surface shall be 170 degrees (see Figure 4-2 in Appendix H of this manual).

    G.

    Curb ramps shall be located so as to provide a continuous accessible path of travel.

    TABLE 4-1
    SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS+
    Street Classification Requirement Minimum Width Feet (Meters)
    Local Both sides 4 (1.2)
    Residential Collector Both sides 4 (1.2)
    Neighborhood Collector Both sides 4 (1.2)
    Commercial Collector Both sides 6 (1.8)
    Industrial Collector One (1) side 5 (1.5)
    Primary Collector Both sides 5 (1.5)
    Arterials-Minor Both sides 5 (1.5)
    Arterials-Major Both sides 6 (1.8)
    + Section 1.4.0 should be referenced for alternate requirements.
    Source: City of Austin, Department of Public Works and Transportation

     

    TABLE 4-2
    SLOPE AND RISE RATIOS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING CONDITIONS
    Maximum Allowable Slope (%) Maximum Rise Maximum Horizontal Projection (RUN)
    10.0% (1:10) 6 inches 60 inches
    12.5% (1:8) 3 inches 24 inches
    Source: Americans With Disabilities Act, Section 4.1.6(3)(a)

     

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