ADA Path of Travel and Parking 5

[CPENG78]

Hello Everyone,
I have a single parking stall serving two small temporary buildings. Since it will be the only stall, it will be marked as an ADA van accessible stall. Both the stall and the landing will be graded not to exceed 2% slope in any direction.

I am very restricted on space in this situation but is it even possible to provide a path of travel from the landing to the building by going behind the vehicle. In other words, the pedestrian will be behind his or her own parked vehicle. This was suggested by someone in our team but in my previous design layouts, I have done everything to keep pedestrians away from the path of travel and place them in a dedicated safe path. Of course, this is the first time I have such a restricted amount of space.

Any ideas? If its at all possible, any places in the federal or CAD ADA guidelines that may allow this type of layout.

thanks in advance,

 

[Ron]

First, how is it that only one parking stall is acceptable under any code for two separate buildings? Second, are the buildings "public accommodations"? If not, they do not have to comply with ADA guidelines, unless your state accessibility guidelines require such for all buildings.

As you have noted, it is not a good idea for the path of travel to be behind vehicles. In the state accessibility requirements under the building code of my state, this is not allowed; however, under the federal ADA requirements, it is suggested but not mandatory.

 

[TerryScan]

An advisory in 502.3 states "Where possible, it is preferable that the accessible
route not pass behind parked vehicles."

Addtionally:

"502.3.4 Location. Access aisles shall not overlap the vehicular way. Access aisles shall be
permitted to be placed on either side of the parking space except for angled van parking spaces
which shall have access aisles located on the passenger side of the parking spaces."

A strict interpretation would imply that while the route MAY pass behind parked vehicles, it would need to occupy its own space (width must be in addition to that required for the drive aisles)

I have encountered situations where this was required and the route had to be marked on the ground.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

If you have ONLY one stall - where do the non-handicapped park as this will likely be marked as "Handicapped Only - $250 fine"

 

[bimr]

Depending on who you ask, you may get many differing opinions.

The only important opinion is the AHJ who will review the plans. The best approach is to prepare a preliminary design and run it by the AHJ to see if the proposed design is acceptable.

 

[MrBachelor]

Many additional questions need to be answered regarding your specific situation:
What city/state are you in?
What is the nature of the "temporary buildings"?
Are they part of a construction site?
Are they intended for public use?
I must agree with Mike, providing only one space and designating it as restricted may not be prudent.

Some jurisdictions allow the path of travel to be behind the ADA stalls, some do not. Local building codes often dictate. As mentioned above the federal code does allow the accessible route to pass behind vehicles, but discourages it. However, Terry's interpretation of 502.3.4 is slightly misleading. Accessible aisles must adjoin an accessible route (to both the building and public way). Aisles shall not overlap the vehicular way, but the accessible route will cross the vehicular way on 95% of site layouts. In a typical retail parking lot layout the route will cross the front drive aisle at some point (either between the space and the public way or betewen the space and the front door). It is possible to have the ADA spaces against the front sidewalk of a building and a path that leads to the public way without crossing any vehicular way, but those layouts are pretty rare.

Here is a link to the latest federal code:

http://www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm

Note that there are exceptions to the federal code listed throughout the document. You should start at section 201 Application, proceed to section 203 General Exceptions, then examine section 208 Parking Spaces, read up on Chapter 4 Accessible Routes, focus on section 502 Parking Spaces, and don't forget to do a keyword search for your specific facility to determine if there are other sections that apply (or provide exemptions). Once you are thoroughly confused by all the cross references you'll need to read it again just to make sure you are compliant.

Nate the Great

http://www.ceieng.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I do hope you realize that I am not against ADA parking or the rules that go with it - but how many times have I pulled into Lowes' or Home Depot with like a thousand DA parking spots and MAYBE one ONLY one is being used.....like always!!

What part of that am I not understanding??

 

[Ron]

Mike...."one size fits all"...rarely fits anyone!

 

[MrBachelor]

Mike, there are many rules and regulations that the educated among us realize are poorly written or just plain wrong. But that doesn't mean we can ignore them, yet. Constructive dissent is more productive. The masses have become so afraid of offending anyone or discriminating that they have written rules that do just that. Life is offensive and people are, by nature, discriminatory. Reasonable accommodations are one thing, but some of these laws are just crazy!

Here's an interesting thought for you: ADA parking spaces are reserved, regulated, and carry hefty fines. But, no one is going to fine you for parking your dumper in the accessible stall in the men's room. Hummmm, I see a new government (waste) program: toilet patrol.


Back to the OP: Could you give us some more info and a layout so we can give you some more constructive input?

Nate the Great

http://www.ceieng.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Since cops don't have to walk too far - it is easy to ticket handicap spots. God help us if they all get Segways - then the toilets will be patrolled.

I use the HC stalls all the time - they are usually cleaner because NOBODY uses them!!

 

[CPENG78]

Thank you everybody for your input and let me me apologize for the delay in response. I know a few of you were looking for more info to give me further input:

To provide more information about the site:
The site is located in Monterrey County, CA. There is a large, call it "superpad" that I will call the "upper site" that includes a few existing buildings to be eventually replaced by new buildings. This area also contains a parking lot with no ADA spaces, I believe around 10 spaces. From there I have an access road (about 250 ft in length) that slopes at about 15% to a smaller pad which I will call the "lower site". This smaller pad will have two temporary buildings that will house people while the buildings at the upper site are to be replaced. Space at the lower site is very restricted and therefore the ADA route was originally been explored to be behind the single ADA stall.

The temporary buildings at the lower site are the modular type sitting on steel stands. With a combination retaining wall and cantilever walkway / ramp, I have been able to create an accessible path from the ADA stall to the buildings (The buildings' FF sits 2.5 ft above the ADA stall). With this layout the accessible path is now in front of the ADA stall and no one is forced to walk behind a parked vehicle.

I agree with the observation, I too have seen banks of ADA stalls in front of Lowe's that no one uses it but in this case, luckily its only one stall. ADA guidelines require one accessible stall for the first 25 in a parking lot. I suppose the argument could be made that there are two parking areas in this overall site but I also agree that it will depend how AHJ will see it.

Thank you all for your input. I know I can always count with you for helpful information....and even some humor as I too notice that HC stalls are cleaner as well..lol.