Worcester officials present ADA self‑evaluation: 7,117 curb ramps inventoried; consultants find most ramps noncompliant with PROWAG

Stephen Raleigh, Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility for the City of Worcester, presented a draft ADA self‑evaluation and transition plan for the public right of way, telling the Accessibility Advisory Commission that the city has not previously completed a comprehensive inventory and that the new effort shows the scope of needed work.

The consultant Apex Companies conducted a citywide curb‑ramp and sidewalk inventory, counting 7,117 curb ramps within Worcester jurisdiction. Apex found 72% of ramps are concrete and 28% asphalt; 72% were rated in “good” physical condition, 23% fair and 5% poor. When judged against the Public Rights‑of‑Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), Apex identified 28 ramps needing minor grinding or detectable‑warning panels and 6,822 ramps they classified as fully noncompliant and requiring reconstruction.

Commissioner Raleigh said the team used both AI mapping and field checks to gather attributes for each ramp and sidewalk segment and excluded ramps on state‑owned rights of way. Todd Corrain, assistant director in the Department of Transportation and Mobility, said the ramp replacement planning‑level cost…