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Designers present ADA ramp plan for Route 28 property; variance to be withdrawn
Summary
Niche Engineering and MassDOT presented a redesigned ramp and landing to connect building entrances at 1341 Route 28 to a new shared-use path, saying the solution meets ADA standards and that they will seek to withdraw a pending AAB variance application.
Designers for the Route 28/Dennis bridge project presented a revised accessibility solution to the Yarmouth Commission on Disability on Feb. 13 that they said will meet ADA requirements and allow them to withdraw a pending variance application.
Niche Engineering project lead Matt Soltis told the commission the proposal adds a new ramp and level landing outside the building entrances at 1341 Route 28 that will connect down to the planned shared-use path. "This project is slated to be about a 5 year project," Soltis said, adding that the construction will be part of a larger bridge and roadway reconstruction led by MassDOT and that the contractor will be required to maintain business access during work.
Kim Miller, the Niche engineer who walked commissioners through the design drawings, described the key elements: "our proposed design includes a level landing in front of the entrances and will maintain the existing entrances that will be connected to a 2% slope, slope to ramp that will slope down, and meet the shared use path." Miller said the shared-use path will narrow at a pinch point to about 5 feet, 6 inches but that the ramp and landing are intended to avoid the need for an accessibility variance.
Rob Antico, MassDOT's project manager on the file, and the design team said the federal- and state-funded project will prioritize coordination with property owners and businesses. The contractor identified in the presentation as likely to perform construction is AA Will; the team said a contractor schedule is not yet set and that sections of the overall program (the bridge and utility work) are the larger time drivers.
On the meeting outcome, the team said it will contact the Architectural Access Board and inform it that a solution meeting ADA standards has been developed. "We'll retract our request for the variance because it's not needed anymore," Antico said, and Soltis said the team will notify the AAB and the commission whether the scheduled hearing will proceed.
Commissioners praised the outreach and the revised plan. Chair Gail Shoret thanked the design team for incorporating the commission's concerns and urged commissioners to continue offering input on accessibility matters. MassDOT and Niche said they are coordinating with Jeff Colby in the town's Department of Public Works as the municipal contact for remaining questions and follow-up.
Next steps: the project team will notify the AAB of the revised design and report back to the commission if the AAB hearing remains on the calendar or if the application is formally withdrawn.
