Planning commission recommends 2026 ADA transition plan to town council

Planning staff presented the town's draft 2026 Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan and the commission voted to recommend it to the Pendleton Town Council for final action. "Our 2026 Americans with Disabilities Act ADA transition plan," staff said, outlining an updated inventory and priority schedule since the last plan in 2015.

Staff described a inventory of curb ramps and sidewalks in the town's right of way, and said consultants reviewed each ramp to determine whether it meets current standards. Bruce, an outside presenter, said staff evaluated ramps at intersections and identified locations where new ramps are required and where existing ramps fail current technical standards. Staff said priority work would focus on downtown and on government facilities, with other residential areas addressed later.

Commissioners asked about the impact of recent technical rule changes on previously installed ramps and about funding. Staff said some contractors' past installations do not meet the updated standards and emphasized there is no blanket requirement to replace recently installed ramps unless those areas undergo an alteration such as roadway reconstruction. Staff tied ramp repairs to planned road preservation projects and grant priorities and said they will use available grants and capital improvement scheduling to phase work.

A motion to recommend the 2026 ADA transition plan to the town council carried on a commission voice vote. The planning department told commissioners it will present an implementation/Title 6 document in a later meeting for further details on schedules and funding.