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Burleson approves $475,000 contract to develop ADA transition plan; council presses for enforcement and curb-ramp fixes
Summary
The city approved a $475,000 professional services agreement with Kimley‑Horn to inventory sidewalks and produce a living ADA transition plan, while councilmembers asked staff to pair the plan with stronger enforcement of sidewalk obstructions and prioritized curb‑ramp work.
The Burleson City Council voted Sept. 15 to approve a professional services agreement with Kimley‑Horn and Associates for development of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan for $475,000, funded from existing bond funds.
Eric Thompson, Director of Public Works, told the council the contract scope includes a citywide field inventory (218+ miles of sidewalks), audits, training components, technology to speed data collection and a public engagement strategy. Staff described the plan as a “living document” that will be updated annually and produce cost estimates to inform future budget decisions.
“It's intended to be updated annually, likely as part of our budgeting process,” Thompson said, noting the plan includes training, dynamic document management and public feedback components.
Several council members supported adopting a transition plan to ensure ADA compliance while questioning whether $475,000 was an appropriate cost and urging more immediate enforcement actions. One councilmember noted that at current construction costs the amount could fund roughly 100 curb ramps, and asked whether the plan will result in tangible enforcement and prioritized repairs.
Thompson said staff expects the contract to produce a prioritized list of deficiencies with cost estimates and that the process will raise awareness across departments through training and multi‑departmental committees. Council also discussed existing enforcement mechanisms (including disabled‑parking enforcement by Citizens on Patrol) and asked staff to explore expanding enforcement for sidewalk obstructions.
Motion and next steps
A motion by Adam (seconded by Larry) to approve the Kimley‑Horn agreement passed unanimously. Staff indicated an October kickoff meeting could occur if the contract is executed and that a draft transition plan and adoption timeline are expected in 2026, ahead of compliance deadlines.
Why it matters
The transition plan will guide the city's approach to identifying and budgeting for accessibility improvements across a large network of sidewalks and public facilities. Council members made clear they expect the plan to result in prioritized capital work and recommended enforcement actions rather than simply a study.
