Thanks to the generous support of our donors, Disability Rights Advocates is pleased to make available on our website and in our offices the work of artists from the National Institute of Art & Disabilities (NIAD). NIAD provides an art program that promotes creativity, independence, dignity, and community integration for people with developmental and other disabilities.
HOW DO I ASK CALTRANS TO REMOVE AN ACCESS BARRIER?
If you wish to request that a barrier to access at or along a Caltrans facility (including any sidewalk access barriers) be remedied, there are two (2) options available for reporting such barriers.
First, you may submit an informal access request. Such access requests may be submitted to Caltrans by phone (toll free), mail, e-mail, letter or fax to Charles Wahnon, the ADA-Section 504-Disability Program Coordinator for Caltrans. Mr Wanon’s contact information is set forth below.
The second way to request removal of an access barrier is by submitting a formal accessibility grievance. Such grievances should also be submitted to Mr. Wahnon but must be in writing by mail, e-mail or fax. To make your request a formal grievance, please indicate that it is a formal grievance and provide information about the condition, policy or practice at issue (including location, date and description if it is an access barrier) as well as your name, address, telephone number. If you submit your request as a formal grievance, Caltrans will respond within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the grievance.
You may contact Mr. Wahnon in the following ways:
866-810-6346(Toll Free) or (916) 324-1353
If you wish to call through the Telephone Relay Service (TTY), please dial 711
916-324-1869.
ADA_Compliance_Office@dot.ca.gov
Charles Wahnon
Statewide ADA Coordinator
California Department of Transportation
Office of Business & Economic Opportunity - MS 79
1823 14th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
You may also file a formal accessibility grievance with Caltrans in writing by mail, e-mail or fax (see contact information above). The grievance must contain information about the alleged discrimination, condition, policy or practice at issue, such as name address, phone number of grievant and location, date and description of the problem.
What does this settlement mean?
This settlement means that Caltrans will improve sidewalk accessibility along the over 2,500 miles of sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian overpasses and underpasses that it owns and/or maintains throughout the state as well as accessibility in Park and Ride facilities throughout the state. Prior to this lawsuit, Caltrans was spending only $1 million per year on ADA improvements to its sidewalks. This settlement requires Caltrans to spend over $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to improve access along the sidewalks and Park and Ride facilities it owns and/or maintains. That means Caltrans will spend $25 million per year for five years, $35 million per year for the next ten years, then $40 million per year for the following 10 years and $45 million per year for the final 5 years.
Also Caltrans will spend additional funds on sidewalk accessibility because the settlement requires that when Caltrans does any resurfacing of its roadways, it must install and/or upgrade all curb ramps adjacent to that roadway.
Why will it take up to 30 years to remove all access barriers?
Caltrans will begin spending at least $25 million annually on removing access barriers starting on July 1, 2010. It will continue removing access barriers for the next 30 years. It will take 30 years to remove all access barriers along its sidewalks and in its Park and Ride facilities because Caltrans has limited funding. The cost of removing the access barriers and installing/upgrading curb ramps when resurfacing will be over $1.1 billion. Caltrans must spread these costs over time in order not to jeopardize other critical transportation maintenance and rehabilitation programs. Even with 30 years, Caltrans will still have to take funding from other transportation projects and programs in order to focus on pedestrian access barrier removal.
Where is Caltrans getting the money?
The funding for improving sidewalk and Park and Ride accessibility is coming from dedicated transportation funding provided by the federal and state governments to Caltrans. It will not impact the general fund or other disability services provided by the state, such as IHSS.
As a class member, am I entitled to any money damages?
This settlement does not provide for any money damages for the named plaintiffs or any class members. However, it explicitly does not release any damage claims that class members may have. Accordingly, you may sue for money damages if you feel that Caltrans has discriminated against you.
| FAQ about the Settlement | [ MS WORD ] | [ PDF ] |
|---|
