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Project elements that impact ADA accessibility
For each project element, technical requirements are provided to guide the design of accessible public facilities. Project requirements for ADA are incorporated in various discipline design manuals.
Refer to the Highway Design Manual for roadside design requirements.
Refer to ODOT's ADA Transition Plan during your project development.
Background and Reference
The U.S. Access Board issued its final rule for accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in public rights of way (
PROWAG) August 8, 2023. The PROWAG guidelines will become enforceable once they are adopted, with or without modifications, as mandatory standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), or the four Federal agencies that set standards for the Federal Government under the Architectural Barriers Act.
US General Services Administration (GSA) adopted PROWAG effective September 3,2024 which amended the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) with the updated accessibility standards.
US DOT adopted PROWAG effective January 17,2025 for new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right of way. Select the Transit Project Element to learn more.
US DOJ is still reviewing the PROWAG accessibility guidelines. Until USDOJ adopts accessibility standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right of way, public entities have some degree of flexibility (except for transit) in determining how they will comply with the general obligation under Title II of the ADA to ensure their facilities are “accessible to and usable by” individuals with disabilities. US DOT adoption of PROWAG now requires that transit stops must comply with PROWAG.
The ODOT Discipline Design Manuals will be modified as needed when PROWAG is adopted by the USDOT and USDOJ in its final form.
Select a project element below to learn more.