Americans with Disabilities Act

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Title II: State and Local Government - State and local governments must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities.
Title II: Subtitle B – Public transit systems must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their services. 

The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability.  It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, and other characteristics illegal.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensures that no qualified individuals with disabilities are discriminated against under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or government agencies that receive federal financial assistance.  The ADA was amended when President George W. Bush signed into law the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) on September 25, 2008.  The ADAAA gives broader protections for disabled workers and includes a list of impairments to major life activities. 

The core mission of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) is to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure to provide a safe, reliable, accessible, and efficient community for everyone.  BCDOT is dedicated to achieving full accessibility and ensuring that everyone can navigate all aspects of our community.  BCDOT is committed to upholding the intent and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and to delivering a multimodal system that is accessible for all users.  

BCDOT ADA Policy

The BCDOT is committed to equal representation for all community members through our ADA Compliance Division.  The ADA Compliance Division oversees and manages the design, engineering, construction, and inspection of the ADA infrastructure in the Right-of-Way for Baltimore City.  The ADA Compliance Division provides a framework to ensure that any private or public project within the City of Baltimore Right-of-Way complies with federal ADA regulations.  The ADA Compliance Division is committed to equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment extends to providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.  For ADA concerns within the Right-of-Way, contact the ADA Coordinator.

ADA Compliance Division Contact:
Valorie LaCour, Chief
ADA Coordinator
Valorie.LaCour@baltimorecity.gov
443-202-5446

Baltimore City Department of Transportation
Attn:  BCDOT ADA Coordinator
417 East Fayette Street, 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD  21202
Email: ADACoordinator@baltimorecity.gov

The ADA Compliance Division works directly with all City agencies to establish and update policies, guidelines, standard operating procedures, and best practices for achieving ADA compliance in all its programs and services.

 

Requests for Accommodations Under the ADA

The City of Baltimore is committed to meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Where pedestrian facilities are not accessible, the City will make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility.

You may request an accommodation on a pedestrian facility by completing the form below.  The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) ADA Coordinator will determine needed actions based on the following timeline:

  • Within three (3) business days of the completed form receipt, the ADA Coordinator will acknowledge your accommodation request.
  • Within ten (10) business days of the completed form receipt, the ADA Coordinator will contact you to discuss the request.  This is the “initial contact”.
  • Within ten (10) business days of the initial contact, BCDOT will conduct a site visit.
  • Within ten (10) business days of the site visit, the ADA Coordinator will inform you of BCDOT’s determination as to the requested accommodation.  If an accommodation is proposed, the ADA Coordinator will describe the work to be performed and the anticipated timeline.

ADA Request for Accommodation Form

 

Grievance Against the City of Baltimore for Discrimination Under the ADA

The City of Baltimore is committed to meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.  Anyone who believes that they may have been discriminated against by the City of Baltimore on the basis of disability has the right to file a grievance against the City. 

Grievances may be filed by contacting the Department of Transportation ADA Coordinator.  Alternatively, grievances may be sent directly to the Maryland Department of Transportation - State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) or the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Maryland Division.

Grievances must be submitted within ninety (90) days of the alleged ADA violation using the form below.  Grievances will be acknowledged within three (3) business days.  Within ten (10) business days of receiving the grievance, the ADA Coordinator will make initial contact with the grievant to discuss the concern.

Within three (3) business days of initial contact with the grievant, BCDOT will forward the grievance form and other background information to:
Wanda L. Dade, Director
Maryland Department of Transportation
State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA)
211 E. Madison Street, M-LL3
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-545-0327
wdade@mdot.maryland.gov

Francisco Edwin Gonzalez
Civil Rights Specialist
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Maryland Division
31 Hopkins Plaza, Suite 1520
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-779-7150
FranciscoE.Gonzalez@dot.gov

ADA Violation Grievance Form 

 

ADA Compliance Divison Projects

ADA Transition Plan
One of the requirements of Title II is the development of an ADA Transition Plan.  An ADA Transition Plan is a documented approach for how Baltimore City will achieve full ADA compliance.  It identifies existing programs, services, facilities, policies, and procedures that require changes, and outlines the steps necessary to become accessible.  Baltimore City is responsible for the ADA-compliance of all city-owned pedestrian infrastructure within the Right-of-Way, which includes sidewalks, curb ramps, driveway aprons, alley throats, and pedestrian signals. 

Baltimore City ADA Transition Plan Public Meeting - The Baltimore City Department of Transportation will be holding a meeting to discuss the Baltimore City ADA Transition Plan.   This meeting will be held in-person and virtually.
Date of meeting:  Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Call in:  408-418-9388 passcode 2333 609 9050
Access the WebEx meeting online:  https://bmore.webex.com/bmore/j.php?MTID=mc372306a660b1eeb6c3506c946013f23
Or join us in person at The Zeta Center, 4501 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215
For questions or accommodations, email the Department of Transportation or call 410-396-6802

The following materials will be presented at the April 10, 2024 ADA Transition Plan public meeting:
ADA Transition Plan meeting presentation
ADA Transition Plan meeting script

All text is in the notice above.

 

Resources

National Resources
Information and Technical Assistance on ADA
ADAAG – United States Access Board
PROWAG – United States Access Board
FAQ for Americans with Disabilities Act

Regional
SHA Accessibility Guidelines For Pedestrians Along State Highways

Local Resources
Mayor's Office of Equity & Civil Rights - Disabilities
Maryland Department of Disabilities
Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
Additional information from the Office of Equity and Civil Rights regarding the Americans With Disabilities Act

The City of Baltimore Standard Specification 2006 C (as amended) and the City Book of Standards reference the latest American with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for the City of Baltimore.