Birmingham Proposes ADA Parking Policy Changes

BIRMINGHAM, MI – Birmingham city officials will review its Americans with Disabilities Act parking policy to ensure it’s in compliance with recently modified federal regulations at a public hearing later this month.

The new regulations require all cities to provide reserved, marked accessible spaces at a ratio of at least one per 25 parking spaces that already exist on any city block, to be implemented whenever a street improvement, such as paving or resurfacing, is completed.

The public hearing to consider the changes will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Department of Public Services building, 851 S. Eton Road. Public comments will be taken, and if the committee endorses the changes, a recommendation will be made at a yet-to-be scheduled meeting of the Birmingham City Commision.

“We’re taking a proactive approach to ensure we’re in compliance with the new federal ADA requirements,” Birmingham City Manager Joe Valentine said in a statement. “We encourage community members and business owners to review the proposed policy and provide their feedback.”

The city has several street improvement projects planned for several blocks in the Central Business District in the next year, so compliance with the new requirements will begin in the 2016 construction season.

The city said that all blocks within the Central Business District will be modified, as weather allows, from April through June, to include the minimum number of marked, reserved spaces required under the new ADA regulations. Details about the policy

Early this year (April through June), as the weather allows, all blocks within the Central Business District would be modified to include the minimum number of marked, reserved accessible spaces in accordance with the new ADA regulations. Details about the policy being proposed and a map showing the suggested location for the accessible parking spaces are found below.

Those who are unable to attend the March 16 meeting may submit comments in writing to Paul O'Meara, City Engineer, at pomeara@bhamgov.org, no later than Friday, March 11, at noon. Questions regarding the policy can be answered by calling the Engineering Department office at (248) 530-1850.