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Board adopts new ADA parking policy for residential neighborhoods; spaces to be tracked in GIS
Summary
The Elkhart Board of Public Works adopted a formal policy to place ADA parking spaces at block locations rather than tie them to specific residents, aligning marking decisions with PROWAG standards and requiring GIS tracking and documentation for exceptions.
The Elkhart Board of Public Works on April 8 adopted a policy for ADA parking spaces in residential neighborhoods that shifts the city's practice from placing spaces tied to individual residents to marking spaces at block-appropriate locations and tracking them in GIS.
The change formalizes an approach the city has begun to use following staff review and input from attendees of an ADA conference. Jeff Schafer, assistant city engineer, said the policy "is a little bit different" from past practice and described the main change: "Basically what this says is we're no longer going to tie a request for an ADA parking space to the resident." He told the board the intent is to evaluate and place spaces where they best meet accessibility standards rather than link a marked space to a specific occupant.
Why it matters: shifting to block-level ADA spaces reduces administrative follow-up when individuals move and aims to align installations with the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG). The policy requires staff to ensure a compliant path to sidewalk access whenever a mid-block placement is considered and to document the justification for any deviations.
Details from the discussion
- Placement and standards: Schafer said the city will generally prefer placing ADA spaces at the ends of blocks near curb ramps but acknowledged flexibility for long blocks or where an end placement would not serve the mobility need. "If we're gonna put it mid block... it's incumbent on public works to make sure there's a compliant route that goes up to the sidewalk," he said.
- Tracking and documentation: The board directed staff to track ADA spaces in GIS. Schafer said the city will document decisions, especially when staff place a space mid-block: "My expectation is that Mr. Lucas is the ADA coordinator. It's going to document why it was placed where it was." (Mr. Lucas referenced in the discussion is Mark Lucas, Public Works.)
- Compliance and federal guidance: Schafer said the approach better follows PROWAG and helps the city demonstrate compliance should Federal Highway or the Department of Justice review installations.
Next steps and implementation: Public Works will log existing and newly installed ADA parking spaces in GIS, evaluate relocation where appropriate, and document any curb-ramp or curb-cut work needed to produce a compliant route to the sidewalk.
Ending: The board approved the policy by voice vote; staff will proceed with GIS tracking, documentation and installations under the new guidance.
