The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recently commented on the Public Rights-of-Way Access Guidelines (PROWAG) components - this rule 'addresses access to sidewalks and streets, crosswalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signals, on-street parking, and other components of public right-of-way.' - with a notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in late August.

 

Officially titled "Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities; Adoption of Accessibility Standards for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way," the rules would adopt PROWAG standards.
"AASHTO and state departments of transportation are supportive of the long-awaited adoption of the PROWAG in order to provide transportation agencies with solid, researched solutions for accessibility within their transportation corridors and ensure consistency across the country in the application of accessibility features within the streetscape," AASHTO noted in the comment letter. However, they also noted that USDOT must provide additional guidance on what "alteration of a transit stop" is and whether or not alterations like maintenance, replacement or additional signage, furniture, repair or replacement of a curb or pad, and repaving.

They went on to also state that the implementation of PROWAG could require changes to right-of-way, signal design, paths, and drainage. AASHTO additionally recommends that effective dates without final design should be set for at least 12 months after publication.