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Commissioners approve $440 million, 40‑year ADA right‑of‑way transition plan for county
Summary
The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Phase 1 of a public right‑of‑way ADA transition plan that staff estimated would cost about $440 million and take roughly 40 years to complete; the plan prioritizes upgrades to curb ramps and pedestrian islands and anticipates an average annual investment of about $11 million.
Washington County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 18 to adopt Phase 1 of a Public Right of Way Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan that staff said will prioritize curb ramps and pedestrian islands and will be implemented over multiple decades.
“Using the Action Plan Schedule as a guide, our implementation strategies for the Action Plan are listed here. The goal is to tackle highest priority curb ramps first,” said Stacy Shetler, county engineer, during the presentation. Shetler told the board the plan’s assessment and prioritization produced a total estimated cost “nearly $440,000,000” and assumed a 40‑year completion timeline, which she said translates to an average of roughly $11,000,000 per year.
The staff presentation described the process used to inventory existing curb ramps, estimate cost and schedule, and solicit public input through an online open house. The plan treats pedestrian islands like curb ramps for evaluation purposes and schedules future phases to address other right‑of‑way assets and missing sidewalks.
Director of Land Use and Transportation Steven Roberts introduced the topic and said the board previously received a detailed work‑session briefing in December. Commissioners emphasized the need to set realistic public expectations because implementation will be long term even if immediate work begins in higher‑priority locations.
Commissioner Jason Snyder noted that even with immediate work, “it’s gonna take, at least as you’ve described, 40 years to accomplish this,” and staff said the plan will include reserved funds to respond to ADA complaints promptly.
Following the presentation, Vice Chair Therese moved to approve the plan and the board approved the resolution by unanimous vote.
The plan directs staff to sequence upgrades so that many ramp improvements occur in coordination with the county’s pavement maintenance and preservation program; staff said additional funding sources and partnerships will be needed to meet the long schedule.
