Construction Update:
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sport

Ed Roether, HOK Sport

Exterior Update:
Karl Metz, Jack L. Gordon Architects, PC AIA

NYC Transit Update:
Janet Lamphier, Assistant to the President
Larry Gould, Senior Operations

Ticket Policy Update:
Kleo King, United Spinal Association

Construction Update:

Facade is near completion
Two light towers are in place
Rotunda → Main entrance 160 ft wide x 70 ft tall – It is enclosed now so you have a sense of the grandeur. Slide shows the details of the brick arches which give it an Ebbets Field look and feel. The Rotunda is dedicated to Jackie Robinson which will have a time line of his accomplishments and the 9 tenets he lived by. Jackie’s images will be on facade and glass.

Team store, ticket booth, ATMs, and elevators, stairs and escalators to the levels will all be located off of the Rotunda.
Concrete block walls are beginning to be put up.
Men’s and Women’s Rooms will be designated by colors (red and green) as well as signage.

All concession/service counters are at 34 inches off the finished floor.

Question – Are the concession stands equipped with an induction loop?
Response – The cost is not the most concerning issue since it is relatively inexpensive but there are technical issues with providing an induction loop for the concessions, including bleed from adjacent signals.
Update - United Spinal followed-up with contacts provided by Janice Schacter (Fred Palm) who indicated that concession stands would need to provide audio amplification for a loop system. Audio amplification systems will not be provided within Concessions within the new Citi Field

Question – Are menus in alternate formats?
Response – Alternate formats other than signage is the responsibility of the concessionaire, who has not yet determined menu provisions for concession stands. The signage package for concession stands not yet done but United Spinal will consider accommodations for those with disabilities when we review this issue.

Question – Are menus in alternate formats?
Response – signage package for concession stands not yet done but we will consider accommodations for those with disabilities when we review that package.
Score boards – all boards have captioning capability

Parking:

West parking lot:
4100 spaces of that 209 are accessible and 37 are van accessible

North parking lot:
845 spaces of that 43 are accessible and 10 are van accessible

South parking lot:
602 spaces of that 31 are accessible and 6 are van accessible

Total: 5,560 spaces, 283 accessible, 53 van accessible

MTA Plaza is further south
Pasaralle is replaced with stairs, 6 inch riser 200 ft x 200 ft

NYC Transit Update:
Janet Lanphier, Assistant to the President 646-252-5800
Larry Gould, Senior Director, Operations Analysis

Janet stated that NYCT is looking into the possibility of the Q48 or an alternative serving as a shuttle from Flushing Main Street stop to stadium on game days. She asked audience for suggestions –
Response – extend service on Q32 & Q66 to the stadium on game day.

There are 2 solutions for this project:
Long term → proper ADA accessible station – agreed making it accessible is a
good idea but didn’t say would do it, out of 420 station complexes, station is
ranked at number 232 = low ridership

Short Term → a capital plan project will include painting, platform work and closing gaps. MTA Board has been approached to get an extra $2 million approved for project

Question: Can the Q32 bus line extend service from Penn Station considering it a limited service (stated that unions are for it)?
Response: It will be looked into and considered.

Question: Can there be 1 escalator (exterior) instead of walking up stairs?
Response: No because it will be problematic because of rain and snow. Stairs rebuilt by Mets.

Suggestion from audience: have shuttles run from more then 1 location.

Many complained that police vehicles are sometimes parked in accessible spaces.

Matt Sapolin replied by saying when you see this issue, get the exact location, let him know and it will be brought to the attention of the Police Commissioner.

Question: Currently, there is a lack of space for police vehicles, is there an area for police in the architectural plan?
Response: Not as of now. However, North side which is 300 ft long is designated for back of house operations such as camera crew, team buses, etc.

Question: Who will operate parking lot?
Response: Mets will hire an independent group.

Park Chop Hill: will be accessible – paved, include crosswalk, slope has been redone but can not say what new slope is.

Ticket Policy:

We asked for guidance from DOJ as far as fraud and ticket policy is concerned.

Also, asked for guidelines as to accommodations for people with other disabilities such as hard of hearing, low vision, etc. DOJ has stated that wheelchair locations can not be offered to people with non-mobility disabilities (i.e.: visual disabilities) until section sells out and tickets for wheelchair locations can be released.

Best idea will be for all with concerns to write to DOJ, the more voices the more likely they will address the issues.

Question: Will Shea put aside separate seats for people who have other disabilities?
Response: Everyone will work together on reasonable accommodations

Enhancements to accessibility requirements are impacting both the national building code and its accessibility standard.

United Spinal Association’s Accessibility Services team represents its members and clients on the International Code Council’s national accessibility standard – A117.1 and in the development of accessibility related requirements within the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Existing Building Code (IEBC).

The current codes cycle will result the 2009 IBC and IEBC and the 2008 edition of A117.1. The building codes are updated every three years with 18 month supplements and the reference standard is updated every five years.

Their have been many changes that will impact how design professionals plan for access for people with disabilities. Highlights on what to expect:

A117.1 – 2008

Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities

• Requirements for Visitable or Type C Units (see detailed article on these basic access requirements to single-family homes within this edition of Access Quarterly)
• Bed height requirements for accessible hotel rooms so guests with disabilities have a location for portable bed lifts
• Elimination of storage requirements within kitchens of Type A dwelling units.
• Elimination of 60 inch turning diameter within walk-in closets of Type A dwelling units.
• Maneuvering Clearance will be required on the inside of the entrance door to a Type B unit.
• Drinking fountains will no longer be permitted to provide only a parallel approach.
• Saunas and Steam rooms will be required to provide accessibility features.
• Requirements for Variable Message Signs for people with visual disabilities.
• Accessible locations will be required within the rear 60% of a movie theater.
• Electrical panel boards are required to be served by an accessible route within dwelling units.

The entire first public comments draft of the A117.1 – 2008 is available on http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/standards/a117/2008/draft_1/

INTERNATIONAL EXISTING BUILDING CODE

• 2% Type A units when 20 or more dwelling units are altered.
• Type B units when buildings undergo a complete change of occupancy.
• Clarification on the accessibility required for additions to Historic Buildings

INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE

• 2% Type A units when 20 or more dwelling units are altered.
• Clear requirements in Live/Work Units (business is on the first level of the home)

As this process moves forward, Accessibility Services will keep you updated. Should you wish to learn more about the developing accessibility requirements of the IBC, IEBC or A117.1 please contact Dominic Marinelli at dmarinelli@unitedspinal.org.

Type C (Visitable) Dwelling Units Criteria to be Included in the 2008 ANSI A117.1

The ANSI A117.1 standard will soon include design criteria for visitability features that could be adopted by municipalities or via state/local ordinance for implementation across the country. The inclusion of visitability criteria in A117.1 is the culmination of the efforts of an International Code Council (ICC) working group (originally convened in 2006) charged with developing model code guidelines for housing not covered by the Fair Housing Act, i.e., for new one- to three- family dwellings, which would be suitable for adoption by local jurisdictions, whether a given jurisdiction intended to apply it to all new houses or within a narrower scope. The working group includes disability advocates as well as members from federal agencies like the US Access Board and HUD. These guidelines, now known as Type C (Visitable) Units, were favorably recommended by ICC in a January 2008 vote to be published for a period of public comment, after which they will be formally accepted, modified or rejected.

The purpose of the Type C technical requirements is to provide a model for accessibility that can be adopted to apply to new houses not covered by the Fair Housing Act. Local authorities are encouraged to consider exemptions where conditions such as extreme topographical conditions warrant them. To date, more than 30,000 houses in the U.S. have zero-step entrances, wider interior doors, and a few additional basic access features as a result of local requirements (which differ). Requirements provided within the Type C criteria are intended to provide consistency throughout the country. Some municipalities which have adopted a visitability policy/ordinance include: Atlanta, GA; Freehold, NJ; Austin, TX; Irvine, CA; Urbana, IL; Visalia, CA; San Mateo County, CA; Howard County, MD; Albuquerque, NM; San Antonio, TX;  Onondaga County, NY;   Southampton, NY; Naperville, IL; Pima County, AZ; Long Beach, CA; Iowa City, IA; Syracuse, NY; Bolingbrook, IL; Escanaba, MI; Chicago, IL; St. Louis County, MO; Houston, TX; Pittsburgh, PA; St. Petersburg, FL; Toledo, OH; Auburn, NY; Prescott Valley, AZ; Scranton, PA; Arvada, CO; Rockford, IL; Montgomery County, MD.

It is important to note that the intent of the Type C unit is not to extend the Fair Housing Act to single family homes. The idea is that every home in a neighborhood can have the most important accessible features needed so that people who have a disability can visit the home and those who incur a disability can remain living in their homes while they plan and make additional renovations they might need. So the application of visitability is based on widespread, i.e. universal, application to primarily owner occupied dwellings.

According to Eleanor Smith with Concrete Change in Atlanta (a project dedicated to making all new homes visitable) "These (Type C) features have the potential for a tremendous boost to integration instead of isolation. Whether you’re an 8-year old with cerebral palsy hoping to go to her classmate’s party, or an older person with multiple sclerosis wanting to go to the family reunion, Type C criteria will prove beneficial. Additionally, these features make it possible for someone to come home from the hospital to recuperate after incurring short term disabilities that limit mobility.

” The technical criteria for a Type C unit have been summarized below (for the complete language of Type C Unit Criteria, please contact Jennifer Perry): jperry@unitedspinal.org

• At least one accessible entrance into the home which is accessed from a public street or sidewalk, a dwelling unit driveway, or a garage
• An accessible circulation path shall connect an entrance with a toilet room or bathroom, with one habitable space with an area 70 square feet minimum and with a food preparation area (if one is provided on the entrance level of the home).
• The toilet room/bathroom should have basic clearance at the water closet and reinforcements in the walls for the future installation of grab bars
• Doors with sufficient clear width (31 ¾ inches) shall be provided throughout the entrance level of the home
• Lighting controls and receptacle outlets shall be mounted within accessible reach ranges (with Exceptions)
• Clearances between all opposing base cabinets, counter tops, appliances or walls within food preparation areas (if provided on the entrance level) shall be 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum.

The design criteria listed above will be included in the ANSI A117.1 2008 edition, most likely under the heading of Section 1006 – Type C (Visitable) Units. This Section will follow the Sections in A117.1 that include the requirements for Accessible, Type A and Type B dwelling units. The success in having the Type C Unit criteria included in the ANSI A117.1 standard is that it truly promotes the goals of visitability – which is to provide all individuals with the ability to gain access into/out of a home and use the bathroom. These design features will in turn benefit many homeowners that may incur a temporary or long term disability. Much research has been done that supports the fact that constructing homes with these features is inexpensive and easy. Hopefully the inclusion of these requirements in the A117.1 standard will promote the design and construction of visitable homes nationwide.

As this process moves forward, Accessibility Services will keep you updated. Should you wish to learn more about the Type C dwelling unit proposal, please contact Jennifer Perry at jperry@unitedspinal.org. You can also visit the following websites to learn more about Visitability: www.concretechange.org and http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/~idea/

Department of Transportation’s Standards for Accessible Transportation Facilities New ADAAG versus existing ADAAG

As many are aware, the Department of Transportation (DOT) amended its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations applicable to transportation facilities under Part 37 (49 CFR Part 37) in the fall of 2006. The amendment adopting the new ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) the Access Board issued on July 23 2004 (69 FR 44084) became effective on November 29, 2006. Specifically, DOT adopted the ADA scoping and technical sections (Appendices B and D to 36 CFR Part 1191, including the index) with a few minor modifications. Thus, any entity constructing or modifying a transportation facility, such as a bus stop, rail station, or airport, must comply with the new ADAAG.

Any other project under DOT’s purview that is not a transportation facility would still need to comply with the existing ADAAG provisions. Therefore, if a passenger drop off area was being built or a public restroom was being renovated along a federal highway, existing ADAAG would apply. If a restroom was being built or renovated in a subway station, the applicable s

DOT modified the Access Boards new ADAAG in the following manner:

• Administrators are being given the discretion to permit broader applications of equivalent facilitation;
• Retained the structurally impractical exception in the existing ADAAG as it has been removed from new ADAAG so as not to conflict with language in the Department of Justice ADA regulations;
• Adopted language from the existing ADAAG emphasizing the distance a person with a disability must travel to use various important station elements must be minimized;
• Adopted language from the existing ADAAG that would keep in effect the requirements concerning detectable warnings at curb ramps located within transportation facilities;
• Added language requiring public entities that have control over construction specifications ensure that bus boarding and alighting areas comply with the required dimensions; and
• Adopted language from the existing ADAAG concerning the coordination of platform and rail car door height.

DOT also specifies that any project that was in progress (meaning actual construction had begun or the final design had received all necessary approval on or before November 29, 2006) would be in compliance if it had followed the provisions in existing ADAAG.

For additional information on accessibility requirements impacting public rights of way please contact Kleo King at kking@unitedspinal.org.

The purpose of detectable warnings, also known as truncated domes, is to alert someone with a visual disability that they are approaching a hazardous vehicular area or an area such as a platform that has a drop-off. Where and when they are required is a question that Accessibility Services staff is often asked.

The reason for the confusion is the scoping differences that exist between the International Building Code (IBC) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines (ADAAG). The scoping for detectable warnings in the IBC is found in Chapter 11. The scoping requires detectable warnings on passenger transit platform edges that border a drop-off and that are not protected by platform screens or guards. There are no scoping requirements for detectable warnings in any other locations such as curb ramps. The technical standards for detectable warnings are found in the ICC/ANSI A117.1.

ADAAG requires detectable warnings be provided at hazardous vehicular areas and reflecting pools. The scoping requirements are found in Section 4.1.3(15) and the technical requirements are in Section 4.29. Platform edges that border drop-offs are not protected by platform screens or drop offs are also required to have detectable warnings.

The reason for some of the confusion may result from the suspension of the requirements for detectable warnings by the Access Board. From 1994 to July 26, 2001 the scoping requirements in ADAAG did not require detectable warnings for hazardous vehicular areas or reflecting pools. The detectable warning requirements boarding platforms in transit stations remained in effect during that time.

The requirements were suspended because of concerns regarding usability, maintenance issues, safety issues due to snow and ice and effectiveness of the warnings. Research was conducted during the suspension and it was determined by the Access Board that the appropriate requirements for detectable warnings should be addressed in public-rights-of–way guidelines.

The Access Board is in the process of developing public-rights-of way-guidelines. Presently, detectable warnings are required by the IBC only at passenger transit platforms. ADAAG requires detectable warnings at hazardous vehicular areas, reflecting pools and boarding platforms at transit stations.

For more information about the proposed public-rights-of-way guidelines please contact John Rooney at jrooney@unitedspinal.org or visit the US Access Board’s website - http://www.access-board.gov.

On January 1st, New York State’s updated building codes, which include the 2007 Building Code of New York State and the 2007 Existing Building Code of New York State, became mandatory for new construction. With the help of the state’s Department of State’s Division of Code Enforcement and Administration and its Technical Subcommittees, New York State has adopted the 2003 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), which reference the 2003 edition of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 as its technical guidelines for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

United Spinal Association will contribute to educating state code officials of our state’s newly adopted building codes by working with the Department of State’s Educational Services Unit. We provide a brief overview of accessibility requirements during one of the six basic training programs required for initial certification of code enforcement personnel in New York State. Although the 2007 Building Code of New York State does not look too different from its previous edition, there are a few updates that we highlight during our overview.

2. Employee Work Areas

Our previous code required employee work areas to be located on an accessible route. The 2007 Building Code of New York State goes into more detail and requires areas to be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities can approach, enter and exit the work area. Not all employee work areas are required to be on an accessible route:

• Common use circulation paths, located within employee work areas that are less than 300 square feet in size and defined by permanently installed partitions, counters, casework or furnishings, shall not be required to be accessible routes.
• Common use circulation paths, located within employee work areas, that are an integral component of equipment, shall not be required to be accessible routes.
• Common use circulation paths, located within employee work areas, that are fully exposed to the weather, shall not be required to be accessible routes.

In addition to being required to be located on an accessible route, spaces and elements within employee work areas must also comply with the following:

• Where employee work areas have audible alarm coverage, the wiring systems shall be designed so that visible alarm notification appliances can be integrated in to the alarm system.
• Employee work areas must comply with accessible means of egress requirements, found in Section 1007.
• Work areas, or portions of work areas, that are less than 150 square feet in area and elevated 7 inches or more above the floor where the elevation is essential to the function of the space are exempt from all requirements.

3. Elevator Exceptions in Multi-Level Facilities
At least one accessible route shall connect each accessible level, including mezzanines, in multilevel buildings and facilities. The 2007 Building Code has added two new elevator exceptions to Section 1104.4:

• In air traffic control towers, an accessible route is not required to serve the cab and the floor immediately below the cab.
• Where a two-story building or facility has one story with an occupant load of five or fewer persons that does not contain public use space, that story shall not be required to be connected by an accessible route to the story above or below.

5. New Drinking Fountains Requirements
Section 602 of the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 not only includes requirements for accessible drinking fountains, but also includes requirements for drinking fountains used by standing persons and drinking fountains primarily used by children.

6. Dimensions for Children’s Use
Chapter Six of the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 includes specific dimensions for water closets, toilet compartments, toilet paper dispensers, and lavatories that are used primarily by children.

Accessibility Services to offer New Course
By Linda Stango, Senior Architect

To coincide with the adoption of the updated New York State Building Code and the New York City Construction Code, United Spinal Association will begin presenting a new continuing education program which reflects the changes in the both codes.  The program  will focus on state and federal accessibility requirements impacting both commercial and residential occupancies.  Attendees will gain an understanding of which accessibility requirements are most restrictive and which represent a safe harbor.  In addition, this seminar will provide attendees with an overview of the revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines and its harmonization with model codes as they relate to accessibility requirements.  This course will focus on problem application areas in commercial facilities, accessibility requirements in existing facilities, types of dwelling units in residential occupancies and life safety issues.

If you are interested in learning more about this program or attending a seminar, please contact Linda Stango at 917.921.2766 or via email at lstango@unitedspinal.org.   

The Fair Housing Act applies to the new construction of multifamily housing facilities with four or more units if the facility was occupied after March 13, 1991 or the last building permit or renewal thereof was issued by a state, county, or local government on or before June 15, 1990.  The following accessible design features apply to all units in buildings with elevators and to all ground floor units in buildings without elevators:

• All doors into and within all premises must be wide enough to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs.
• All premises must contain an accessible route into and through the dwelling unit.
• All light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and environmental controls must be located in an accessible location.
• Reinforcements in the bathroom walls for later installation of grab bars around toilet, tub and shower must be provided.
• Usable kitchens and bathrooms must be provided so that a person who uses a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.

Also, at least one building entrance must be on an accessible route and all public and common use areas must be readily accessible.

The FHA does not apply to the renovation or alteration of existing housing facilities.

Thus, the question we are now facing 17 years after the effective date of the Fair Housing Act is what is the responsibility of builders, owners, and operators of covered housing facilities that were designed after the effective date but did not comply with some or all of the accessible design features?

The answer to this question is going to depend on the location of the housing facility as different courts have reached different decisions.  Most courts have used the continuing violation theory.  Meaning if the housing facility was designed and constructed with features that violated the Fair Housing Act and its Accessibility Guidelines then the violation continues until it is remedied.  This has been the decision in cases brought in many states including Maryland, Montana, and New York. 

Other courts have held that the Fair Housing Act requires a complaint be filed within two years of when the violation occurred so, in other words, the case against the builder, developer, etc. must be filed two years after the facility was built.  This time frame is a little harder to ascertain a specific date as large housing facilities are often constructed in phases.  One court in Kentucky attempted to tackle this issue and held that the two year period began to run after the last unit was sold.

Many cases have settled before the court could render a final decision.  One of the largest settlements was against Archstone-Smith Trust.  The settlement required a survey of 71 apartment complexes with a total of 12,000 units covered by the Fair Housing Act throughout the United States, removal of the barriers at a cost estimate of $20 million dollars, and 1.5 million in attorney fees (not including the cost of Archstone-Smith Trust’s attorney’s fees), court costs, and damages.

A prudent owner of a housing facility covered by the Fair Housing Act should have an independent assessment done of its facility for compliance with the Fair Housing Act.  This will bring peace of mind if all features comply and will cost less money to find and rectify any violations rather than wait to defend a legal action.

By John Rooney

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 is an expansion of discrimination prohibitions based on race, color, national origin religion and sex to people with disabilities and familial status.  This affects builders, designers and developers because the amendments not only apply to policies but also the design and construction of multi-family housing.

In short, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) applies to new construction of multi-family housing that consists of four or more dwelling units. Multi-family housing built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 is required to comply.  There is a misconception that compliance with FHA is based on federal funding; however the law pertains to multifamily housing whether the funding is public or private.  Please note that the presence of federal funding for housing will required compliance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

One aspect of our work in Accessibility Services is to assist designers, developers and builders with FHA compliance.  In our efforts to do this we provide training, plan review and site reviews.  There are specific compliance issues that we have come across numerous times; one of them is the requirement to provide accessible routes on building sites. The question of where they are required is the purpose of this article.

Site Arrival Points:

The FHA Guidelines require an accessible route to be provided from site arrival points.  It is important to determine how people will arrive at the site in order to determine where accessible routes are required.  Site arrival points include public transportation stops, accessible parking spaces, accessible passenger loading zones and public streets or sidewalks.  An accessible route is required from site arrival points to accessible building entrances.  An exception to the required aforementioned accessible routes is applied if doing so is impractical to do.  Site impracticality is based on difficult terrain or unusual site characteristics such as locations in a federally designated flood-plain or coastal high-hazard area.  There are site tests found in the Fair Housing Act Design Manual that can be used to determine whether the exception can be applied.  This manual is a great resource and can be found online at the following link: www.huduser.org/publications/destech/fairhousing.html

Accessible Site Facilities:

The FHA Guidelines require an accessible route from dwelling covered by the act to all public and common use areas.  Examples of facilities required to be served by an accessible include -but not limited to- exterior mailboxes, exterior trash disposal areas, playgrounds, swimming pools, recreation areas and clubhouses.  An accessible route is not required between buildings that only contain dwelling units covered by the FHA unless one of the buildings contains a facility or amenity, e.g. a laundry room that is shared by the covered buildings.  The FHA Guidelines permit the use of a vehicular route in place of an accessible pedestrian route between covered buildings and public or common use site facilities in some situations.  When the finished grade exceeds 1:12 or other physical obstructions -outside the control of the owner of the development- prevent the installation of an accessible route between covered dwelling units and public or common use areas then a vehicular route is permitted.  The use of the vehicular route in lieu of an accessible route requires the provision of accessible parking spaces at covered dwelling units and the provision of accessible parking spaces at each common or public use facility not served by an accessible pedestrian route.

An often overlooked requirement of the FHA is the provision of exterior accessible routes from site arrival points and accessible routes that serve public and common use facilities on a site. It is a great benefit to consider these issues in the initial planning stages of Multi-family dwelling units covered by the Fair Housing Amendments Act to ensure compliance.

New Initiatives To Expand Accessibility In N.Y.C.
By Dominic Marinelli
Click here to read the article PDF.

As United Spinal has previously reported, Type A units required in alterations to apartments will no longer be required in the 2007 edition of the International Building Code (IBC).  To respond to proponents of the code change eliminating this requirement,
United Spinal Association has worked with other disability organizations in drafting a proposal that will clarifying when these adaptable features will be required - when more than twenty (20) units are altered, 2 percent will have to provide Type A features.

3409.8.8 Type A dwelling or sleeping units. Where more than 20 Group R-2 dwelling or sleeping units are being altered or added, the requirements of Section 1107 for Type A units and Section 907 for visible alarms apply only to the quantity of spaces being altered or added. 

Recognizing the need to increase the availability of accessible housing stock, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) the Disability Rights Education Defense Fund (DREDF), National Council for Independent Living (NCIL), Paralyzed Veterans Association (PVA) worked on developing the code proposal that would provide the same level of adaptability as what was required in the 2006 edition of the International Building Code (IBC).

These same disability organizations joined the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in a separate proposal to propose that an effective date be added to an otherwise blanket exception for "Type B" units in existing facilities.   The IBC and its accessibility standard A117.1 refer to the adaptable features required by the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act’s Accessibility Guidelines as a "Type B" unit.

Because these guidelines do not require adaptive features in existing multi-family dwelling units, existing building code’s have used the all encompassing exception below:

Type B dwelling or sleeping units required by Section 1107 of the International Building Code are not required to be provided in existing buildings and facilities

However, there is a significant flaw with such a general exception.

If a covered multi-family dwelling unit (a residential building with 4 or more units) is built on or after March 13, 1991 and for whatever reason does not comply, it would be inaccurate to not indicate the effective date Fair Housing Amendments Act’s Accessibility Guidelines.

The proposal of organization’s representing people with disabilities simply adds the March 13, 1991 effective date to the exception.

"It is important that the code is not contributing to continuing violations of the federal law.  What we can’t understand is how the IBC can be considered a ’safe harbor’ for compliance with Fair Housing with such a glaring deficiency," United Spinal Association’s Dominic Marinelli, said.

By HUD recognizing that a code or standard is a "safe harbor" it means that code or standard is equivalent to the Fair Housing’s Accessibility Guidelines.

"If our proposal is not successful, organization’s representing people with disabilities will have to formally ask HUD to reserve their ’safe harbor’ designation of the 2009 International Building Code.

The first opportunity that the voting membership of the International Codes Council (ICC) will have to vote on these proposals is during ICC’s first meeting of the 2007/2008 code cycle on February 18th through March 2nd at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California. 

New NYC Construction Codes
Intro 578-A, which is comprised of the new Building Code, Fuel Gas Code, Mechanical Code and Administrative provisions, was signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg on July 3rd, 2007.  Through an effort undertaken by the Department of Buildings and over 400 volunteers from industry, real estate, labor and government, New York City’s 20 year-old accessibility requirements (Local Law 58) will be replaced with the 2003 edition of the International Building Code (IBC).  The new Building Code will reference the 2003 edition of ICC/ANSI A117.1 as its technical guidelines for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, which is harmonized with the U.S. Access Board’s revised Americans with Disabilities Act/Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines). 
The new NYC Construction Codes, including the Plumbing Code in Local Law 99/2005 and the Administrative Provisions, Building, Fuel Gas, and Mechanical Codes in Local Law 33/2007 will become effective on July 1, 2008.  Individuals will have the option at that time to use either the old or new code for one year. On July 1, 2009, the codes will become mandated for new construction. It should be noted that certain provision, including those relating to administration, enforcement, special inspections, and construction safety will apply to all projects as of July 1, 2008.
The new NYC Construction Codes are available online on the NYC Department of Building’s website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/model/construction_code.shtml

Updated New York State Codes
The current Building Code of New York State uses combined language from the 2000 edition of the IBC and the 2001 Supplement to the IBC in its Building Code, which references the 1998 edition of ICC/ANSI A117.1 as its technical guidelines for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.  Rather than using Chapter 34 of the IBC for existing structures, the Building Code of New York State requires existing buildings and facilities to comply with Appendix K.
These construction requirements, for both new and existing facilities, have been updated and will soon be usable.  With the help of the state’s Department of State’s Division of Code Enforcement and Administration and its Technical Subcommittees, New York State has adopted the 2003 edition of the IBC, which references the 2003 edition of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 as its technical guidelines for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, and the International Existing Building Code (IEBC).
The updated Building Code and Existing Building Code are expected to be published in the October 3, 2007 publication of the Federal Register.  Individuals will have the option on this date to begin using these new codes.  On January 1, 2008, the Building Code and Existing Building Code will become mandated for new construction.  These new codes have been available to purchase from the International Code Council (ICC) since August 20, 2007.  For more information, visit the ICC website: http://www.iccsafe.org/.

Draft copies of the new codes are available online at the following sites:

Building Code: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/new_york/NY_Building/building_frameset.htm

Existing Building Code: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/new_york/NY_ExistingBldg/existingbldg_frameset.htm

Dominic Marinelli from United Spinal Association provided introductions and a brief overview of our agenda, which included the following items:

• Construction Update
• Signage
• Brochure and Online Access Guide
• Ticket Policy

1. Construction Update – Bradd Crowley, HOK Sport

Pictures were shown to attendees displaying the progress in construction of the new stadium.

Questions:

Q: How many seats will be provided in the new stadium?
A: Approximately 50,000 seats

Q: How many of the approximately 50,000 seats are luxury box seats?
A: 1,000 seats

Q: Is the number of seats at the new stadium reduced due to the luxury boxes?
A: No, the new stadium will have fewer seats because row dimensions have been increased in the new stadium. The new stadium will have wider row dimensions so that attendees are provided with more room at their seats.

Q: Will field dimensions be the same at the new stadium:
A: Yes, the field dimensions will be the same at the new stadium. The 1st row of seats behind home plate will be located closer in the new stadium.

2. Signage – Amy Siegel, C&G Partners

• Signage will be white text on a dark blue background (Yankees colors).
• Signage identifying permanent rooms and spaces will be located on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door, 60 inches above the floor to the centerline of the sign.
• All rooms will only be identified by numbers which will include raised characters and Braille.
• Some rooms will only be identified by a number; some will also have a name.
• Elevator and stair signage will include both raised characters and Braille.
• Wheelchair viewing locations are fenced in and identified by signage that includes the section number and the International Symbol of Accessibility.
Questions:

Q: If individuals with disabilities not using wheelchairs will be seated in the wheelchair viewing locations, will it be confusing to only have the International Symbol of Accessibility (wheelchair symbol) at the viewing locations?
A: Wheelchair viewing locations are required by city and federal accessibility guidelines to be identified with the International Symbol of Accessibility.

Q: Although everyone who attends outreach meetings knows that all toilet rooms at the new stadium will be accessible, how will others know if signage is not provided?
A: Signage would only be required at toilet rooms that are not accessible and all of the toilet rooms at the new stadium will be accessible.

Comment: New stadium will be an example of a new era of construction where everything is accessible and does not need to be identified with signage.

Comment: Several attendees feel that without signage identifying toilet rooms as accessible, people will not know that they are accessible, especially out-of-towners.

Amy Segal suggested, as a possible solution, that the International Symbol of Accessibility be provided on directional signage to toilet rooms, rather than providing a sign at every toilet room with the symbol.

Suggestion: Provide signage on toilet rooms and on the accessible stall(s) within these toilet rooms reminding individuals without a disability that they should not use accessible toilet stalls or the unisex toilet rooms.

Q: How many unisex toilet rooms will be provided at new stadium?
A: 14

Discussion with Attendees: regarding the placement of signage to alert the public about the availability of an Assistive Listening System at the new stadium.

Suggestions:
• Provide signage stating the availability of Assistive Listening System at all stadium entrances, turnstiles, all portals into stadium, and at each ticket booth.
• Print information on Assistive Listening System on tickets.
• Make sure that information tells attendees where devices can be picked-up.
• Ticket box office operators could announce to callers the availability of the Assistive Listening System.
• Announce on Yes network, on Yankees website, Ticket Master website, newspaper ads, radio broadcasts, etc.
• Knowledge of the availability is important, especially if Yankees provide an alternate channel on the FM system for a play-by-play broadcast.
• Ensure that signage uses the correct symbols – use the following website as an example: www.hearingloop.org

3. Brochure and Online Access Guide – Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

Yankees brochure and online access guide could be a good place to provide information to Yankee fans with disabilities, such as the availability of an Assistive Listening System or the fact that all toilet rooms and concession stands are accessible, etc.

Question to attendees: Would a Brochure and Online Access Guide be worthwhile?

Replies from attendees:
• Yes, an access guide would be worthwhile but not a panacea since not everyone may read the guide or know of its availability.
• Suggestion to integrate accessibility features into a new stadium guide, rather than have a separate section on access.
• If accessibility features are integrated into brochure, the info may be missed if individuals do not read entire brochure.
• Suggestion to integrate accessibility features into general stadium brochure and provide a separate access guide.
• Suggestion to look at Metropolitan Opera online brochure as a good example to follow.

Questions:

Q: How many captioning boards will be provided at new stadium?
A: 2 on the first and third base facade. The main scoreboard has the ability to provide captioning.

Comment: FedEx stadium has 2 captioning boards provided on each end of stadium and many plays are missed because you have to keep turning your head away from field to see captioning boards.

Reply: At new Yankee stadium, all seats face towards 2nd base so if captioning boards are located in sight of 2nd base, individuals will be able to see the field and the captioning boards.

Q: Will captioning be mixed case letters or all upper/lower case? Many attendees agree that captioning needs to be mixed case letters.
A: Follow-up on exact type of characters available on captioning board will be provided.

Q: Where will induction loops be provided?
A: An induction loop will be provided in conference center and at one window within the main ticket booth

Comment: All ticket booths should be provided with an induction loop.

Reply: Follow-up on the possibility of providing a loop at one ticket window at each main ticket distribution point in the new stadium will be provided.

4. Ticket Policy – Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

Two main ticket policy issues include:

1. Enforcement /ticket fraud
2. Accommodating other disabilities, other than individuals who use wheelchairs, in accessible seating locations, such as blind and visually impaired individuals.
• Accommodate service/guide dog
• Proximity of seats to field
• Unobstructed line of sight from seats

Proposal: Although new federal accessibility guidelines only require .5% of seating to be accessible, more then 1% of viewing locations within the new stadium will be accessible to achieve compliance with current city and federal accessibility standards.

Suggestion: Half of the accessible seats will be distributed as they are at the current Yankee Stadium, thereby satisfying federal accessibility requirements. The other half will be reserved for “club” members. Yankee fans can voluntarily join this free club – in order to join, members will have to prove that they have a disability that would require them to be accommodated with accessible seating. This suggested ticket policy idea was provided to the U.S. Department of Justice independent of the new Yankee Stadium in August for their review/comments.

Comment: If any Yankee fans do not feel comfortable providing proof of disability, they can purchase accessible seating without joining club (like they currently do at the stadium). If people with hidden disabilities do not want to join the club as they would be viewing games in wheelchair spaces that will feature folding chairs, they can purchase the remaining 99% of seats available.

Opening Remarks:
Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

Update on Construction of Citi Field:
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sport

Slide show presentation of construction photos:
• Steel in Administration Building and on all 3 levels of stadium in place.
• Lower deck seating bowl in place.
• Elevator towers in place.
• Brick and concrete façade along 126th Street in place.
• Concourse will be a soot color (midnight blue) and seats will be a deep green color.

Communication Update on Signage:
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sport and Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

• Directional signage will be provided throughout stadium – signs will have a dark background (either black, blue or maroon) with white figures.
• Exterior plaza directory – although some elements will be raised, directory will be more graphic than tactile.
• Discussion about creating a tactile relief map that individuals can get familiar with prior to attending a game at the stadium. Some attendees felt that it may be a burden to make individuals make a special trip to stadium in order to familiarize themselves with relief map.
• Discussion about the possibility of using talking signs or individual listening devices as an alternative to using a relief map. Would it be difficult to use these types of signs because of how wide open the stadium is?
• Suggestion – there could be “designated areas” where signs could be placed, similar to how subway signs that are always placed on right side of 1st pole.
• Joel Ziev suggested that we reconvene Communication Task Group and discuss communication issues in greater detail (involve 212 – concession company).
• Ken Stewart asked if elevators will include both a high and low control panel – individuals with visual impairments have difficulty using control panels located at the lower accessible height. United Spinal indicated that the elevators planned have a single control panel that will be within the accessible reach ranges required. It is not possible for a second panel at this point in the project.
• There will be 2 food menus provided in stadium - one inside and one outside.
• Ken Stewart suggested that color contrast be used within toilet rooms – do not put a white urinal against a white wall.
• There will be 2 signs identifying toilet rooms – one located to right of door at an accessible height and one “blade” sign, sticking out from the wall and located high on wall so that individuals walking down concourse can see.
• Suggestion to provide raised seat numbers on seats, particularly helpful on aisle seats.

Questions:

Will signs in stadium be accessible? Yes, all signage provided both within the stadium and outside the stadium will be accessible. Designation signage will be mounted at the required accessible height.

Will concession stands be accessible? Yes, all concession stands will be at an accessible height.

Will accessible toilet stalls be identified with signage? Yes, accessible toilet stalls will be identified with signage including the International Symbol of Accessibility.

Will there be any unisex toilet rooms? Yes, there will be 14 unisex toilet rooms and all will be identified with signage as “unisex toilet rooms” not as “family rooms.”

Will all toilet stalls be accessible? No, each toilet room will have one accessible toilet stall. HOK Sports is referencing the newer codes, even though they are not yet being used in NYC, in order to provide greater accessibility, such as the addition of unisex toilet rooms.

Will the toilets be auto flush? Yes

Will signage include both upper and lower case letters, which is easier to read for individuals with visual impairments? Signs with visual characters will include both upper and lower case letters. ADAAG and ANSI standards require signs with tactile characters to be uppercase letters.

What is the Fun Zone? This name may be changed – it includes the wiffle ball field and pitching machines.

Communication Update on Assistive Listening System:
Joel Ziev, Partners for Access, LLC

• Joel wanted to clarify that we should be using the term “captioning” rather than “closed-captioning.”
• FM system does not work in meeting rooms. Induction loop will be provided to allow those having T-Coil to use their hearing aids instead of getting a receiver.
• One of the 17 ticket booths located in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda will be provided with a loop system. System will be tested – if more are needed, this can be done easily, without too much of an expense.
• All ticket booths will be provided with audio amplification.
• Comment by attendee that not all Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) have volume controls, so can be difficult to use without hearing aid. Jarrod Esposito, who set-up Assistive Listening System in meeting room, pointed out the ALDs he uses have volume controls.
• Rick Morin commented that many stadiums have a 2-channel FM system for individuals who want to use a radio. Sometimes broadcasts are delayed up to 12 seconds. He supports Infinity Corporation’s decision to stop using a delay in Gillette Park next season and hopes that the Mets will not implement a delay in their FM system.
• Citi Field will have a 2 channel FM system – one channel will be PA and the other is to be determined.
• As of now, captioning will be provided on two signs, one provided on right field side and other provided at left field side.

Questions:

How will ticket booth with loop system be identified? Ticket booth provided with loop system will be identified with signage. Discussion about which of the 17 booths is the best choice for the loop system – center booth or booth to far right?

How many ticket booths are accessible? All ticket booths are at an accessible height.

Can an attendee see the captioning boards if they are sitting in the upper deck? Captioning boards can be seen from all seats within stadium.

Transportation Update:
John Ingram, Jack Gordon Architects

• Identified entrances located on North, South and on 126th Street.
• #7 train is not accessible – Mets have met with MTA but nothing is resolved.
• Cross rail is in way of construction.
• Willets Point – RFP from City for development.
• MTA will be increasing the width of stairway from satellite station.
• Attendees suggested putting pressure on elected officials and borough president to ensure that MTA makes #7 train accessible by opening day of new stadium.
• Although the Mets don’t have control over MTA and the accessibility of #7 train, there could be bad press on opening day for Mets if no accessible public transportation is provided to Citi Field.
• MTA spokesperson, Joseph Raskin, said that he would notify MTA about our discussion on #7 train.
• Suggestion to invite MTA to our next Outreach Meeting at Shea Stadium.
• Victor Calise from NYC Parks and Janet Gangloff from the Tennis Center also want the #7 train to be accessible since their constituents use same subway line – suggestion that all interested parties meet to discuss meeting with MTA.
• Discussion on possible pick-up and drop-off locations for Access-a-Ride at Citi Field.
• Ed Roether from HOK Sports pointed out that police may have to be involved in the selection of pick-up and drop-off locations due to security issues.
• Suggestion to provide pick-up and drop-off locations with coverage from inclement weather.
• Suggestion to make sure that pick-up locations can be seen from stadium so that individuals can keep a look out and see when Access-a-Ride vans arrive.
• 126th Street has 30,000-40,000 square feet of retail space that individuals may visit on non-game days so may want an Access-a-Ride drop-off and pick-up location here.
• Suggestion that we also contact MTA Bus, City Bus and LIRR about accessible transportation (LIRR stop at Shea Stadium is not accessible).

Questions:

How many accessible parking spaces will be provided? 5,639 parking spaces are provided in total, 284 are accessible and 68 are van accessible.

Will the Mets be creating a permanently lined wheelchair softball field in the parking lot? Yes

Stadiums and arenas being planned and constructed today will provide accessibility features to better meet the needs of fans with disabilities. United Spinal Association has been working on several stadium projects in order to ensure compliance with the latest and greatest accessibility requirements provided in the revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, the International Building Code and the International Code Council’s American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings - A117.1.

Responding to accessibility modifications mandated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in their existing stadium, the New York Yankees instructed HOK Sports Architects and United Spinal Association to work with New York City’s very active disabled community to solicit input on ways to make the new stadium as accommodating to Yankees’ fans with disabilities as possible. All suggestions are reviewed by the design team – even if their inclusion would exceed existing city and federal accessibility requirements.

“One suggestion that made a lot of sense was from a wheelchair user who requires oxygen during events. By simply adding an electrical receptacle within the wheelchair viewing location, he will be able to plug-in his medical equipment,” Yankees’ ADA Coordinator Carol Laurenzano said.

Beyond the increased number of wheelchair viewing locations required by New York City’s accessibility requirements Local Law 58, the stadium will have the requisite lines of sight over standing spectators for wheelchair users, whose viewing locations will also be integrated throughout the seating bowl. Although not required by city and federal accessible requirements, many fans with disabilities have requested unisex toilet rooms for privacy and to assist family members with disabilities. These accessible family toilet rooms are required by the International Building Code (IBC) for large Assembly and Mercantile occupancies. Even though the IBC has not yet been adopted in New York City, these accessible single-use toilet rooms will be featured on all levels of the stadium.

The stadium will also feature large electronic display boards on the first and third base facades that will be dedicated to captioning public address announcements for fans with hearing disabilities. The ADA’s Accessibility Guidelines do not provide specific requirements on the need to provide this type of equivalent communication. Many pro stadiums, ballparks and arenas accommodate people with hearing disabilities by distributing hand-held devices that provide text messages of public address announcements to avoid competing with the revenue that can be generated by using the display boards as advertising space. Providing these accessibility features is much less of a challenge than ensuring that they can be utilized by the people they were designed to benefit.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) allows venues to sell wheelchair viewing locations on a level when all the able-bodied locations on that level are sold. DOJ does not permit ticket-sellers to ask people requesting wheelchair viewing locations for proof of their disability. In venues that sell-out their stadiums on a regular basis, ticket scalpers gobble-up the wheelchair viewing locations and sell the seats to able-bodied fans. This is most frustrating to long-time Yankees fan Kevin Feighery, whose daughter uses a wheelchair.

“Nothing is more frustrating then going to a game and seeing only able-bodied individuals in areas dedicated for wheelchair users and their families,” Feighery said. “Overcoming DOJ’s self-identification restrictions, while ensuring that the relatively limited number of accessible locations are available to those who need them the most is the real challenge.”

While the needs of wheelchair users and people with hearing disabilities can be met in measurable ways, the game experience of individuals with visual disabilities goes well beyond signage with contrasting colors identifying spaces and way finding surfaces from parking and public transportation.

Vision impairments range from total blindness to degrees of low vision. Contrary to the beliefs of many, individuals who are blind and vision impaired can derive equal benefit and equally participate in the ballpark game experience with certain reasonable accommodations. For those who require such accommodations, lacking them pose insurmountable barriers. Individuals with low vision using adaptive technology require unobstructed sight lines and close proximity to the playing field, which also provides access to the sounds of the game. Instantaneous audio description is normally provided by local radio broadcasts and made available on the stadiums’ Assistive Listening Devices on an alternate channel. Certain low vision fans require access to video displays to review replays. Protection from foul balls and bats is essential, as many blind and vision impaired attend the games without sighted companions. Guide Dog users require an appropriate amount of space for their canine partners.

Rick Morin, Board Member of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, points out that "…. ADAAG specifications for the location and configuration of wheelchair accessible locations are appropriate for many individuals who are blind and partially sighted. Individuals who are blind and vision impaired represent roughly 10 percent of the total disabled community and a pragmatic approach to accommodating individuals with vision impairments is to make a limited number of wheelchair accessible locations available to the blindness community." Rick encourages dialogue between DOJ, stadium owners and cross-disability groups to arrive at a workable solution for all members of the disabled community.

The Assembly Area Task Force of the A117.1 committee has used the existing Yankee Stadium as a venue for meetings. The task force is comprised of staff members of the United States Access Board, the International Codes Council, representatives of disability organizations, theater-owners and designers of assembly areas. The goal of the committee is to ensure that updates proposed to the 2008 edition of A117.1 are consistent with the accessibility requirements of the updated Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

In order to make compliance with accessibility requirements easier, the Access Board has sought to harmonize its updated accessibility guidelines for new or altered facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) with the IBC and A117.1. The more stringent aspects of both standards have also been referenced along with New York City’s accessibility requirements (Local Law 58) at the new home of the New York Mets – Citi Field.

Careful consideration to providing access has been emphasized at unique fan attractions, like platforms that provide viewing of the bullpen and baseball diamonds right within the new ball park.

Both the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are scheduled to be ready for Opening Day – 2009.

On December 14, 2006, United Spinal Association presented a continuing education program for AIA member in Orange County, California entitled “Update: State and Federal Accessibility Requirements”. The goal of this program was to provide AIA members with an overview of the Revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, released by the US Access Board on July 26, 2004. Accessibility Services has provided a similar program for a number of AIA sponsored conferences, including, AIA Illinois, AIA Georgia, AIA South Atlantic Region (Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia), and AIA New York.

The program was held at The Atrium Hotel, Irvine, California and qualified for two (2) AIA/CES Learning Units applicable towards Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) credit. AIA Orange County hosts this annual event in order to benefit the design community by allowing individuals to meet their end-of-the-year AIA membership and various state licensing education requirements. The Accessibility Services program’s Leaning Objectives included:

• Participants will develop an understanding of the scoping differences between ADAAG and the revised Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines;
• Participants will understand the major changes between current ADAAG and the Revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, and how to apply them to specific projects/areas, including:

Accessibility Services was honored to be a part of this Chapter’s continuing education programming, and we enjoyed meeting the Orange County design professionals. While Accessibility Services has provided instruction on state and federal accessibility requirements nationwide, this was our first continuing education program that was provided in conjunction with an AIA California Chapter. We look forward to meeting and working with other California AIA Chapters and providing technical assistance, consulting and training on state and federal accessibility requirements to other California AIA members.

Should you wish to learn more about Accessibility Services and our programs, please contact Jennifer Perry at 610.757.0044 or via email at jperry@unitedspinal.org

Many of you have copies of our Barrier Free Design publications. The following two publications are still current and can still be used: Barrier-Free Design: Selected Federal Laws and ADA Accessibility Guidelines and Barrier-Free Design: New York City.
If you need additional copies of these two publications, you may call (800) 444-0120 or e-mail: publications@unitedspinal.org and place an order for a charge of $10 per copy.

Three of our publications are out of date and will not be reprinted. They are Barrier-Free Design: New York State, Barrier-Free Design: New Jersey, and Barrier-Free Design: Pennsylvania.

Accessibility Services’ staff spends a great deal of time answering technical questions in response to calls, emails and posts on our online Accessibility Requirements Forum. Answering technical questions keeps all of us up-to-date with city, state and federal requirements and gives us an idea of which requirements are the most confusing to architects, design professionals and code officials. Once in a while, we receive a question that really gets us digging in the code books, looking for the correct answer. We wanted to share a few of these questions with you, in hopes that you’ll learn something new, just like we did.

Do any requirements exist governing the location of kick plates on doors?

The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) provides the following guidance in its appendix regarding the location of kick plates on doors:

A4.13.9 Door Hardware. Some disabled persons must push against a door with their chair or walker to open it. Applied kick plates on doors with closers can reduce required maintenance by withstanding abuse from wheelchairs and canes. To be effective, they should cover the door width, less approximately 2 in (51 mm), up to a height of 16 in (405 mm) from its bottom edge and be centered across the width of the door.

Is visual contrast ever required on stairways?

The revised ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines provides an advisory note in Section 504.4 on tread surface, which recommends providing visual contrast on tread nosings so that stair treads are more visible for people with low vision.

The ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 requires visual contrast of dark-on-light or light-on-dark on the leading 2 inches of the tread.

504.5 Nosings. The radius of curvature at the leading edge of the tread shall be ½ inch (13 mm) maximum. Nosings that project beyond risers shall have the under side of the leading edge curved or beveled. Risers shall be permitted to slope under the tread at an angle of 30 degrees maximum from vertical. The permitted projection of the nosing shall be 1 ½ inches (38 mm) maximum over the tread or floor below. The leading 2 inches (51 mm) of the tread shall have visual contrast of dark–on–light or light–on–dark from the remainder of the tread.

If you have any unanswered technical questions, Accessibility Services invites you to visit our online Accessibility Requirements Forum: http://www.accessibility-services.com/category/forum/

The Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) was signed into law on September 13, 1986 and expands the protections found in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in housing sales, rentals or financing. The FHAA extends the prohibition of discrimination to persons with a disability and families with children.

One aspect of the Fair Housing Amendments Act is the design requirements for newly constructed multifamily dwellings. Structures with four or more dwelling units that are built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 are subject to the design requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

The Fair Housing Act Guidelines contain seven design requirements for multifamily housing that is covered by the act. The focus of this article is Requirement 1, which requires at least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. The burden of establishing that site impracticality exists is on whoever designs and constructs multifamily covered by FHAA.

Accessible exterior routes are required by the Guidelines to be provided from public transportation stops, accessible parking spaces, accessible passenger loading zones, and public streets and sidewalks to accessible building entrances unless it can be shown that it is impracticable due to terrain or unusual characteristics. During the planning stage all of the different ways that people arrive at a site must be considered in order to ensure compliance with FHAA requirements.

The Guidelines also require exterior accessible routes to all facilities, elements and spaces that are part of common and public use areas. Examples include, but are not limited to, outside mailboxes, playgrounds, gazebos and refuse disposal facilities.

There are two tests that can be used to determine if site impracticality due to difficult terrain exists on a site. The two tests are the Individual Building Test and the Site Analysis test. There is also a test to determine if the FHAA requirements can be reduced in sites with unusual characteristics. The latter is used in sites located in areas such as a federally designated flood-plain or a coastal high-hazard area.

It is important to understand the scope of where and when exterior accessible routes are required and to properly use the aforementioned tests to determine if site impracticality can be considered. For a complete and thorough understanding of the FHAA requirements and the proper use of site impracticality tests it is a good idea to review the Fair Housing Act Design Manual. This publication can be obtained in a PDF format at the following link: http://www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/fairhousing/fairintro.pdf

Question: If you provide a parallel approach to a lavatory within a Type B, Option A bathroom, does the cabinetry have to be removable?

Answer: If you provide a parallel approach to the lavatory then the removable base cabinet is not required. Please note that the 30" by 48" clear floor space is required to be centered on the lavatory.

If a front approach is provided then a base cabinet (if provided) has to be removable and knee and toe clearances are required.

Below is the applicable section in the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003:

1004.11.3.1.1 Lavatory. A clear floor space complying with Section 305.3, positioned for a parallel approach, shall be provided. The clear floor space shall be centered on the lavatory.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. A lavatory complying with Section 606.

2. Cabinetry shall be permitted under the lavatory provided such cabinetry can be removed without removal or replacement of the lavatory, and the floor finish extends under such cabinetry.

Dominic Marinelli from United Spinal Association provided introductions and a brief overview of our agenda, which included the following items:

Ticket Policy Update

• Due to the settlement with DOJ, the Yankees do not have any control over the ticket policy at the current stadium.
• All large venues have issues with the abuse of wheelchair viewing locations by non-disabled fans, the challenge is how to comply with DOJ requirement that prohibit venues from asking for proof of disability while not excluding Yankee fans with disabilities from enjoying future games in the new ballpark
• In our earlier meetings and special task groups, we collected feedback and suggestions on how to improve the ticket policy at the new stadium. These suggestions will be taken into consideration and the issue of ticket policy and enforcement will be revisited.

Access-a-Ride

Carol Zwick and Gary Schiavone – Paratransit Division of NYC Transit

• The current stadium does not have a designated Access-a-Ride bus stop.
• Department of Transportation must approve a designated bus stop – they are currently working with DOT to get a bus stop assigned to the new stadium.
• Need location at new stadium that will accommodate Access-a-Ride vehicles.
• Before choosing the location for the bus stop, must figure out the traffic pattern at the new stadium.
• Ed Roether from HOK Architects added that the traffic pattern should consist of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic.
• It is also important to have the bus stop located near an accessible entrance.
• Ed Roether informed audience that all entrances at the new stadium will be accessible.
• Dominic Marinelli stated that at first he always thought that the bus stop should be located by the primary entrance but that may not be the best choice if we take into consideration the volume of pedestrian traffic.
• Ideal bus stop location could accommodate 3-5 vehicles, be provided with a curb to make deploying a ramp easier, and be provided with covered benches.
• Access-a-Ride works with the police, making them aware that they are part of NYC Transit.

Questions:

1. Can Access-a-Ride provide a loop system into each vehicle so that the drivers can communicate with passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Janice Schacter will provide information on loop system to Gary Schiavone of NYC Transit.

2. Can the vehicle access lane for Access-a-Ride vehicles be larger?

Vehicles are 20 ft in length - the smallest access lane provided is 25 ft and others are 40 ft.

3. What can we do to ensure that police ticket cars that park in bus stops?
   Some NYC Transit employees have the ability to ticket cars that park in bus stops & they do write tickets – fine is $150.

NYC Transit has no control over the police.
Kleo King announced that United Spinal plans on reaching out to NYPD and asking them to attend a future meeting.

4. Can the Access-a-Ride bus stop be a remote area and then have a jitney service provided to/from the stadium?

This hasn’t been considered. DOT must be involved with NYC Transit in choosing a designated bus stop.

5. Can there be a way that customers can speak with the dispatchers?

Carol Zwick stated that all of the vehicles will be getting GPS so that they can be tracked.

6. Does NYC Transit do outreach about its Access-a-Ride services?

Carol Zwick stated that Access-a-Ride does outreach – Access-a-Ride receives approximately 4,000 applications each month.

Metro-North Update - John E. Kenard - Long Range Planning at Metro North Railroad

• Metro-North will be opening a new station near Yankee Stadium (closer to where current stadium is located).
• Trying to get new station opened by the time that the new stadium is opened but this will be a challenge – Metro-North must acquire land.
• New station will be fully accessible – elevators, accessible signage, tactile warnings
• New station will be served by all 3 lines east of the Hudson River

Questions:

1. Will all lines have express trains?

Depends on location – some lines will only be local trains.

2. Will Metro North provide a jitney service from new station to Yankee Stadium?

This had not been considered – can look into this.

3. When there are delays, the signs don’t keep up with “real” train time – will this problem be taken into consideration at new station?

Signs at new station will be updated by an individual located at the new station, rather than from a remote location, so that delays can be noted on signs and provide commuters with “real” train time.

Captioning - Joel Ziev - Partners for Access LLC and Ed Roether - HOK Architects

• There will be two ribbon board displays for captioning provided at 1st and 3rd base – each display will be approximately 4 ft by 20 ft.
• Everything on PA system is proposed to be displayed on ribbon board.
• Ribbon board will be an LED screen, supporting two lines of captioning but is flexible to allow various means of captioning.
• LED screen will be tied into the emergency back-up system to provide information during an emergency situation.
• Flexibility with this type of system – size of letters, all capital letters or mixed letter types, number of lines of information provided, etc.

Questions:

1. What information will be provided on the TV monitors throughout the stadium?

Ed Roether stated that the TV monitors should allow for two captioning feeds, but is not sure what would provide the best communication – either the same info provided over the PA system or play-by-play info from the broadcast.

2. Can a third ribbon board be provided below the scoreboard? There is some concern about making individuals look away from the scoreboard to read the captioning on the two ribbon boards located at 1st and 3rd base.

It is expected that most information announced over the PA system will be displayed on the scoreboard, but further discussion is necessary.

3. Will advertisements be provided on ribbon boards? It was suggested that ads should not be mixed with captioning.

The caption displays are dedicated to captioning but are adjacent to other ribbon boards that serve advertisements.

4. Can these ribbon boards be seen from the bleacher seats?

Yes, the ribbon boards can be seen from bleacher seats - will have to make sure that the captioning can be read from bleacher seats.

5. Can the background color be changed on the ribbon boards to notify individuals when information being provided isn’t relevant to the game?

The LED screens are flexible – need further discussion to determine best method of relaying information over ribbon boards.

6. Will the music being played over the PA system be captioned? If yes, could the font be changed so that individuals know that the captioning being provided is the music being heard over the PA system?

Yes, everything heard over the PA system could be captioned and the font could be changed. However, the extent and presentation of captioned information needs further discussion.

Additional Questions:

1. Will the new stadium provide accommodations for individuals that have low vision?

Ed Roether explained the way-finding that will be provided at the stadium, in addition to the signage provided with high contrast letters.

2. How will individuals in the ramps during egress be notified of details and/or directions relevant to an emergency situation?

Ed Roether stated that the TV monitors have the capability to provide emergency information but they are not visible from the exit ramps. Also, the stadiums TV’s are not hooked-up to the emergency power system.

3. Will food vending areas be provided with an accessible counter?

Yes, all counters provided at vendors will be either 34 inches or 36 inches above the floor.

4. Will accessible menus be provided?

It will be proposed to the venders that they provide approachable menus at each food vending area that will allow individuals to look at menu and make a choice before going to service counter.

5. Can an induction loop system be provided at each ticket booth so that individuals who are hard of hearing can communicate?

Providing induction loops at the ticket booths will be looked at, but further discussion is required.

6. Will accessible menus be provided?

It will be proposed to the venders that they provide approachable menus at each food vending area that will allow individuals to look at menu and make a choice before going to service counter.

Opening Remarks – Dominic Marinelli, United Spinal Association

Design Development Update on Citi Field
Mike Sabatini, HOK Sports

• Ebbets Field is the inspiration for Citi Field Ballpark.
• Jackie Robinson rotunda – brick arches and ornamental steel.
• Openness between stadium and neighborhood.
• Shea Stadium will remain operational until Citi Field is completed.

Parking/Transportation
• Approximately 5% of parking spaces will be accessible parking spaces.
• 1 out of every 5 parking spaces will be van accessible parking spaces.
• 80 foot wide plaza around Citi Field will separate stadium from parking lot.
• NY Mets are working with MTA concerning transportation issues – 7 train and LIRR stops at Shea Stadium are not accessible.

Stadium Features
• Four major entrances at new stadium.
• Bus parking area provided near Whitestone Expressway.
• Shea stadium is 20 feet taller than Citi Field.
• Citi Field has 18 elevators (Shea Stadium has 4 elevators). Each entrance will have a minimum of 2 elevators serving it. There are 3 designated freight elevators.
• 3rd base side of stadium is served by ramps.
• Wiffle ball field will have some bleacher seating.
• Tread dimensions for seating (measurement from front of chair to back of chair in front of individual) range from 33 – 39 inches. Tread dimensions at Shea Stadium range from 30 – 32 inches).
• Seat width at Citi Field will range from 19 – 24 inches, depending on location. Seat width at Shea Stadium is 18 inches.
• Wheelchair accessible seating at Citi Field will be dispersed both horizontally and vertically with enhanced line of sight.
• 449 of Citi Field’s 42,544 seats will be accessible.

Ground/Plaza Level
• Accessible seating located on the field by 1st, 3rd base and behind home plate.
• Group Sales area – outfield fence – entrance to area by 126th Street.

Sterling Level (private level)
• Level is 15 feet above field.
• Sterling Club – 1700 seats and 10 suites (all suites have accessible seating in back row). Accessible seats are also provided between the suites in two locations.
• No amenities on this level will disrupt view of the field.

Concourse Level (1st public level of stadium)
• Level is about 30 feet above field.
• Only level that allows you to walk around the entire stadium on a concourse that is approximately 50 – 60 feet wide.
• Accessible seating is distributed around this level. The accessible seating by 1st and 3rd base is located at the playing field.
• Ebbets Club holds approximately 700 seats that sit above the sterling club seats (accessible seating is provided in multiple locations within Ebbets Club).
• Three suites in Ebbets Club are owner suites (accessible seating is provided within owner suites).

Suite Level – located from 1st to 3rd base (private level)
• Among suites, 5 are party suites.
• Level also includes the front tier of the restaurant (accessible seating is provided in front row and back row at the club level).
• There is a bridge that connects the administration building to ballpark.

Club Level (private and public)
• Press is located behind home plate.
• Accessible seating is provided all around the club level seating, including the 5 rows of club seating located in front of press with accessible seating at the back.
• Approximately 15 rows of seats are provided on 1st and 3rd base side of stadium with accessible seating at the back.
• Left field porch seating with accessible seating at the back.
• Restaurant with a capacity of 190 seats on a multiple tier dining experience with accessible seating at the top tier.
• Right field porch is attached to the administration building. The roof of the administration is the concourse of the porch. Accessible seating is located at the back row. Access to this level from elevator and the bridge connected to the ballpark.

Promenade Level (right to left field, public)
• Split deck system.
• 4 rows of seating provided in lower portion.
• 24 rows of seating provided in upper portion.
• Accessible seating is provided all around the promenade level.
• GA Club located behind home plate will provide refuge from bad weather for a few hundred individuals.
• Accessible seating is distributed throughout

Accessible Seating & Lines of Sight
Ed Roether, HOK Sport

• Wheelchair seats sit on a pedestal so that when spectators stand-up, the heads of individuals in wheelchairs will be at the same height as the standing spectators.
• Life safety/Aisle Stair requirements include consistent stair heights.
• As of now, the companion seats provided in wheelchair seating locations will be fixed seats.
• Aisle seats with movable armrests will be provided at Citi Field. Discussion about the purpose of movable armrests on aisle seats – technically, an aisle seat with movable armrests is not required to be on an accessible route. Also, seats with movable armrests have many maintenance issues.

Means of Egress
• Components of stadium’s accessible means of egress include elevators, ramps and all stairs.
• Both the amount of time for people to exit the facility and the amount of time before smoke accumulates to dangerous levels are considered for smoke-protected assembly seating along with safety factors. This includes the accessible means of egress.

Questions/Comments from Audience

• Need to ensure that individual with disabilities can get to Citi Field via public transportation – need to make 7 train and LIRR accessible.

• Do we know the number of Mets fans that don’t drive vehicles to Shea Stadium? Maybe there are enough “walk-ins” to create extra MTA bus lines on game days or an express bus from Manhattan to Citi Field.

• Will the new subway trains be available on the 7 line that provide accommodations for visually impaired and deaf/heard of hearing?

• Will any elevators be designated for use only by individuals using wheelchairs? At Shea Stadium, the press monopolizes the few elevators available. Mike Sabatini of HOK Sports replied that the main entrances are served by escalators that are located within the general flow of traffic; therefore, most spectators will use the escalators.

• Citi Field staff, including seasonal workers, should undergo training so that they know how to react in emergency situations.

• Will seat numbers be provided on back of seats? Mike Sabatini of HOK Sports replied that yes. Suggestion from audience that seat numbers be high contrast to seat.

• If companion seats are fixed – make sure that staff is trained and willing to move these fixed seats. Staff members at Brooklyn ballpark are reluctant to remove fixed seats.

• If new accessible stations are provided for LIRR or 7 train at Citi Field, make sure that no gap exists.

• Need a bus route from the Rockaways – currently have to transfer from A train to 7 train. Noted that if a bus line isn’t used enough, the route will be reduced or eliminated.

• Are all concession stands at accessible height? Yes – all counters at concession stands are at a height of 34 inches above the finished floor.

• Will an Assistive Listening System be provided at Citi Field? Yes. Joel Ziev explained the FM broadcast system that will be provided in the seating bowl of the new stadium.

• Will closed captioning be provided? Will it be provided under each speaker? Adding closed captioning under each speaker could add confusion. It is important that everyone needing closed captioning know where to find it – consistency is important.

• Televisions will be located throughout concession area and all can be captioned.

• Will there be visual alarms provided in toilet rooms? Yes.

• How many scoreboards will there be at Citi Field? Currently, the Mets plan to have one main scoreboard in center and one smaller scoreboard located in right outfield. Suggestion that Mets provide mock-ups in order to test if captioning both scoreboards is readable from all seating locations in the stadium.

• Ensure that the letters on the closed captioning provided on the scoreboards contrasts with board. Important to use the term “visual contrast” rather than “color contrast.”

• Will the captioning be provided on the top or bottom of the scoreboards?

• Will way finding be provided in parking lot? Necessary to have way finding to public transportation too.

• Remember that employees of Citi Field may also have disabilities.

• Will the ticket policy require medical proof of a disability?