OTREC Events

IBPI Short Course: Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility

Sidewalks, like roadways, should be designed to serve all users. To meet the needs of all sidewalk users, designers and builders need a clear understanding of the applicable standards and requirements, and the wide range of abilities of the users.

This course, developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), teaches participants how to apply the guidance and policies of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to public rights-of-way. The course will examine range of pedestrian disabilities, how people with disabilities use pedestrian facilities, and how restrictive designs affect mobility and safety.
• Accessibility guidelines and requirements of the ADA
• Characteristics of pedestrians and the pedestrian environment
• Legal requirements and funding opportunities (US DOT and FHWA)
• Obligations to evaluate practices, policies and activities for discrimination and to remove barriers

Participants will learn how to enhance pedestrian mobility, independence and safety through accessible design and the accessible design elements of the pedestrian corridor, including:
• Accessible driveways and curb ramps
• Street crossings, including crosswalks, overpasses, underpasses, medians and islands
• Intersections and roundabouts
• Pedestrian signs and signals, including accessible pedestrian signals
• Temporary facilities and construction site safety

When: Thursday, October 4, 2012
Where: Portland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union
Who: Presented by John N. LaPlante, PE, PTOE
Registration: $295
More information: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/courses

About the Instructor:

John N. LaPlante, PE, PTOE, is currently Director of Traffic Engineering for T.Y.Lin International, working out of their Chicago office. Prior to joining the firm in 1992, Mr. LaPlante had been with the City of Chicago for 30 years in various transportation engineering positions, including Chief City Traffic Engineer and Acting Commissioner of the new Department of Transportation. He has been involved in several national committees (PROWAAC, AASHTO Green Book Technical Committee, NCUTCD Pedestrian Task Force, and the TRB Pedestrian Committee) and was principal author of the AASHTO Pedestrian Guide. He has taught many courses as part of the FHWA Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, National Complete Streets Coalition and the APBP / US Access Board’s Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility. Mr. LaPlante’s commitment to accessibility began with his responsibilities to make the City of Chicago completely accessible up to his recent work on Complete Streets providing universal access to users on all streets as a basic design requirement. His education includes a BSCE degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an MSCE degree at Northwestern University. He is a Fellow of both ITE and ASCE.


 

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