Northampton commission signals support for Main Street PROWAG-based variances, to formalize comments in September

The Northampton Disabilities Commission reviewed detailed design plans for the Main Street redesign and the associated 11 variance requests needed where the project meets newer Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) but not the existing Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB/MAAB) rules.

Director Mish of Planning and Sustainability told commissioners the corridor redesign runs from the Smith College gates at West Elm and Main through downtown and across the railroad to the Market/Holly intersection. She said the project team designed to PROWAG in anticipation of a statewide update but must file variance requests because the AAB standards remain on the books: “the PRO AG standards will be eventually adopted by the AAB, but they haven't gotten there yet,” she said.

The 11 variances arise largely from cross-slope and plaza-area grades that exceed the AAB 2% cross-slope limit but fall within PROWAG allowances (the design team cited limits near 5% in plaza areas). Mish walked commissioners through specific locations — a new Elm Street crosswalk at the West End, plaza seating and pull-off areas near Bathwick/Crafts/Main, a relocated bike-share adjacent to the courthouse lawn, bus pull-up pads, and a curb extension near Strong Avenue — and explained these exceed AAB cross-slope limits primarily because of existing topography.

Commissioners asked how PROWAG was developed and when Massachusetts might adopt it; Mish said she was not fully versed on PROWAG’s genesis and could follow up with specifics. Commissioners also asked for numeric comparisons to existing downtown crossings and asked staff to bring measured examples so commissioners can better feel and compare running and cross slopes on site.

Several commissioners expressed conditional support for forwarding the package as a set of initial comments. The chair said the design team had “done their utmost to mitigate the slope and the pitch” given the terrain, and commissioners asked staff to forward the commission’s concerns and suggestions to the AAB/MassDOT if the state reviews the project before the commission’s next meeting. Commissioners agreed to take a formal vote at the commission’s next meeting (scheduled Sept. 8) and to provide interim written feedback to state reviewers prior to that date if needed.

Next steps: staff will compile commissioners’ initial questions and suggestions, provide requested numeric slope comparisons or examples for commissioners to test on site, and prepare a formal packet for a September vote. Director Mish said the project team can return to answer additional questions before the commission finalizes its position.