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The National Academies

NCHRP 08-193 [Pending]

Implementation of Accessible Temporary and Alternate Pedestrian Access Routes in the Public Right-of-Way

  Project Data
Funds: $750,000
Contract Time: 30 months
Staff Responsibility: Arefeh Nasri

BACKGROUND

Research on temporary and accessible alternate pedestrian access routes for people with disabilities is limited, with a primary focus on people with vision impairments. Qualitative studies highlight that inaccessible routes disproportionately impact people with disabilities. National guidance is minimal, largely limited to standards from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG). State and local guidance on temporary traffic controls varies significantly; while some states adhere strictly to national guidelines, others have developed more comprehensive protocols. Challenges in achieving accessibility compliance under existing guidance remain inadequately addressed with current research. Without defined parameters or sufficient engagement with people with disabilities, implementation often relies heavily on engineering judgment. Furthermore, common and emerging design solutions offer limited evaluation for accessibility and user experience, leading to inconsistency and uncertainty among practitioners. Research is needed to create user-centered accessible design for temporary and alternate pedestrian routes, ensuring safe and effective mobility for people with disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to develop a guide for state and local transportation agencies, contractors, and permittees on implementing temporary and accessible alternate pedestrian access routes in public rights-of-way in a variety of design and land use contexts, considering the diverse needs of pedestrians with disabilities (e.g., mobility, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual/developmental). 

Accomplishment of the project objective will require at least the following tasks.

TASKS

PHASE I – Planning

Task 1.  Conduct a literature review of research on pedestrian accessibility and mobility challenges in work zones and temporary access routes, state departments of transportation (DOTs) practices and guidelines on processes and implementation, and legal requirements for right-of-way accommodations. Additionally, collect relevant data on work zone safety and the prevalence of disabilities in the general population (including both permanent and temporary disability data as available).

Information may be obtained from published and unpublished sources and through the NCHRP; the Federal Highway Administration; and other national, state, and pooled fund sponsored research.

Task 2. Identify and engage key stakeholders and practitioners (e.g., state DOTs, transit agencies, design and construction professionals, private practitioners, and disability groups) to gather information relevant to this research. At a minimum, conduct:

  • Two online surveys—one directed to end users and one directed to practitioners—to collect initial feedback from key stakeholders on needs, challenges to implementation, and successes. The task also involves the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review and approve the online surveys. 
  • Focus group interviews/workshops to collect more nuanced and qualitative information.

Task 3. Based on the results of Tasks 1 and 2, identify knowledge gaps related to the project objective. These gaps should be addressed in the final product or the recommended future research, as the budget permits.

Task 4. Propose the work plan to be executed in Phases II and III to achieve the research objective. At a minimum, the work plan shall include:

  • Reviewing existing practices for planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of alternate pedestrian access routes.  
  • Assessing existing guidelines and practices in terms of meeting current accessibility needs across disability types (e.g., mobility, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual/developmental). 
  • Investigating how state and local agencies address civil rights in addition to the tort liability when evaluating accessibility needs for pedestrians with disabilities.  
  • Determining the degree of public outreach, operational communication, and involvement of people with disabilities in planning, design, and construction. 
  • Analyzing challenges to obtaining compliance with national, state, and local accessibility standards for alternate pedestrian routes.  
  • Identifying best practices for inspection and monitoring to maximize compliance.
  • Developing recommendations and illustrative diagrams that can be adapted into design standards for effective temporary and alternate pedestrian routes in a variety of land use and design contexts.
  • Identifying and evaluating innovative and emerging technologies and techniques for accommodating pedestrians with disabilities on temporary and alternate routes.
  • Identifying gaps in guidance and practice to propose accommodation improvements and inform future research on accessible pedestrian access.
  • Developing the selection approach for practices to be pilot tested (based on surveys, interviews, and a review of existing and proposed practices) and a pilot testing evaluation method. The research team shall propose the number of pilot studies to be conducted for approval by the NCHRP.
  • Planning and delivering educational rollouts in national/regional venues. 


Task 5. Develop an annotated outline for the guide. The guide shall consist of two parts: (1) the design guide and (2) the process guide with case studies. 

Task 6. Prepare Interim Report No. 1, which documents Tasks 1 through 5 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phases II and III.


PHASE II – Execution

Task 7. Execute the research plan according to the approved Interim Report No. 1.

Task 8. Develop a draft guide based on the approved work plan and the results of the research. 

Task 9. Conduct the pilot studies to evaluate the draft guide and the design interventions and implementation strategies presented in the draft guide based on the results of Tasks 7 and 8. At a minimum, pilot studies should be performed in multiple geographically diverse locations that reflect a variety of design and land use contexts, in a closed-course or open-course environment as appropriate. The pilot studies should collect feedback on effectiveness from people with disabilities and other stakeholders.  

Task 10. Prepare Interim Report No. 2, which documents Tasks 7 through 9 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the project. The updated work plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase III.


PHASE III – Final Deliverables

Task 11. Revise the guide after consideration of the panel’s review comments and the feedback received from the pilot studies.

Task 12. Prepare (1) presentation material, in a PowerPoint or other format, for use in webinars to facilitate the use and adoption of the guide, and (2) the communication tool(s) to be used in the series of educational rollouts as part of Task 13 (see Special Note N for additional information on the format of the communication tool(s)).

Task 13. Conduct a minimum of ten in-person (with a virtual participation component) educational rollouts in national/regional venues such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) National Network centers. These educational rollouts shall be held in the final 6 months of the contract period.

Task 14. Submit the draft final deliverables, including (1) a final report that documents the entire research effort, (2) the guide, consisting of two volumes: the design guide with an implementation checklist and the process guide with case studies, and (3) the communication tool(s) used for presentation of research findings and the educational rollouts.  


STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.

 

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