FerretAfros
Well-Known Member
I've worked in the ADA compliance department for a large agency with dozens of parking garages totaling more than 50,000 spaces, so I'm well acquainted with ADA's requirements for these types of facilities. From what you guys are saying, it sounds like the garage's design does not meet code. ADA 2010 section 208.3.1 says:
... Where parking serves more than one accessible entrance, parking spaces...shall be dispersed and located on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrances. ...
In this case the garage serves multiple accessible entrances, the security checkpoint at the trams and the pedestrian bridge. Although the tram loading is located on the ground level, the shortest accessible route is actually from the 2nd level, since there is no direct at-grade access from one side of the tram loop to the other (presumably, removing these sorts of conflict points was a goal for this project). The pedestrian bridge also connects at the 2nd level, so the accessible parking spaces don't necessarily need to be dispersed throughout the structure, but it's good practice to have a handful of spaces on each level for late arrivals after they've stopped directing traffic.
Having accessible parking located on the ground floor is not the shortest accessible route to any of the facilities served by the parking structure, and therefore does not meet ADA's requirements. Presumably this is an infrastructure problem that could be resolved by operational changes (reinstating the crosswalk), but would be better served in the long-run by relocating the accessible parking to the 2nd level. Although parking structures often have the accessible parking clustered on the ground floor, it's not unusual to have it on a different level if that's where the primary facility entrance is located.
Given how the Pixar Pals garage was rushed into construction, it's not inconceivable that parts of the intent didn't get relayed to the entire design team. However, it's surprising that nobody stopped to think about how it would function during the review processes from the design firm, client, or regulatory agencies overseeing it. In the world of construction problems, this is a relatively easy fix (signage and striping), but as built it's a major issue.
... Where parking serves more than one accessible entrance, parking spaces...shall be dispersed and located on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrances. ...
In this case the garage serves multiple accessible entrances, the security checkpoint at the trams and the pedestrian bridge. Although the tram loading is located on the ground level, the shortest accessible route is actually from the 2nd level, since there is no direct at-grade access from one side of the tram loop to the other (presumably, removing these sorts of conflict points was a goal for this project). The pedestrian bridge also connects at the 2nd level, so the accessible parking spaces don't necessarily need to be dispersed throughout the structure, but it's good practice to have a handful of spaces on each level for late arrivals after they've stopped directing traffic.
Having accessible parking located on the ground floor is not the shortest accessible route to any of the facilities served by the parking structure, and therefore does not meet ADA's requirements. Presumably this is an infrastructure problem that could be resolved by operational changes (reinstating the crosswalk), but would be better served in the long-run by relocating the accessible parking to the 2nd level. Although parking structures often have the accessible parking clustered on the ground floor, it's not unusual to have it on a different level if that's where the primary facility entrance is located.
Given how the Pixar Pals garage was rushed into construction, it's not inconceivable that parts of the intent didn't get relayed to the entire design team. However, it's surprising that nobody stopped to think about how it would function during the review processes from the design firm, client, or regulatory agencies overseeing it. In the world of construction problems, this is a relatively easy fix (signage and striping), but as built it's a major issue.
