Americans with Disabilities Act

Close-up of accessible stop button on public bus.

Phoenix Transit Riders Face Accessibility Challenges

Disability advocates want the city’s transit agencies to expand the scope of their accessibility efforts to include a broader range of needs.

November 26, 2023 - AZ Big Media

Sign showing accessible hiking trail sign with blurred forest in background.

How States Are Improving Accessibility for Parks and Trails

State parks are introducing adaptive mobility devices to help more visitors enjoy natural spaces.

November 21, 2023 - Governing

Close-up of yellow pedestrian crossing signal button with text "Push button for accessible signal" and diagram of person holding cane, indicating blindness.

New Guidelines Bring Clarity to Accessibility Requirements

The new rules could help bridge the gaps in accessibility infrastructure and ADA compliance, making roads and sidewalks safer for everyone.

September 21, 2023 - Strong Towns

Workers pouring concrete in wooden mold for new sidewalk

Completing Sidewalk Networks: Benefits and Costs

Many communities have incomplete or inadequate sidewalk networks that fail to accommodate all users. A new study indicates that completing sidewalk networks is one of the most basic and cost effective transportation improvements.

August 6, 2023 - Todd Litman

Close-up of black and white Livonia Avenue subway sign with blue accessibility symbol

New York Subway Begins Accessibility Improvements

The MTA is putting its effort to improve the system’s century-old stations to make them more universally accessible in high gear, adding elevators, boarding upgrades, and mechanical improvements.

June 6, 2023 - The City Life

Wheelchair ramp at outdoor train station

ADA Compliance Slowly Makes Headway

Decades of advocacy are paying off, but it often takes legal action to force cities to make accessibility improvements mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act over thirty years ago.

May 4, 2023 - Diana Ionescu

Accessible elevator sign with arrow on a New York City subway platform

New York Must Make Almost All Subway Stations Accessible by 2055, Judge Rules

Another recent ruling is forcing the agency to accelerate its efforts to make all New York subway stations accessible to people with disabilities and mobility issues.

April 11, 2023 - The City

Close-up of crosswalk button for blind pedestrians labeled "button for audible signal only"

Chicago Found Liable for ADA Violations

A federal judge ruled that the city fails to provide “meaningful access” to many of its streets due to a lack of infrastructure for pedestrians with vision impairments at most of the city’s intersections.

April 10, 2023 - WGN

Red brick buildings at Kalamazoo central train station

Michigan Cities to Improve Accessibility at Rail Stations

Four cities settled lawsuits citing a lack of ADA compliance at their intercity rail stations.

February 10, 2023 - M Live

View from back of person in black clothes and hat waiting to board train at Chicago train station with blurry train in front of them.

Chicago Awarded Federal Funding for Accessible Train Stations

The city received a federal grant geared toward improving accessibility at CTA and Metra stations, close to a third of which lack ADA compliance.

December 20, 2022 - Chicago Tribune

Man walking away past glass elevator in brightly lit New York City subway station corridor

New York MTA Releases Plan for Improved Accessibility

The MTA announced plans for new or improved elevators at almost two dozen stations as part of its pledge to make more of its stations fully accessible.

December 7, 2022 - The Architect's Newspaper

Sidewalk curb cut painted with blue and white disability symbol

Why Accessible Sidewalks Fall by the Wayside

Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago, most U.S. cities delay making accessibility improvements to sidewalks until activists bring them to court.

November 15, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of wheelchair user on subway platform

MTA Sued Over Platform Gaps

Riders with disabilities say that vertical and horizontal gaps of as much as 7 inches between trains and platforms prevent many riders from safely entering and exiting trains.

October 31, 2022 - Curbed

Aerial view of downtown Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville Approves ADA Compliance Plan

The city plans to make improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and bring its public streets into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

October 28, 2022 - WLOS

Freshly painted white crosswalk leading to yellow curb cut to sidewalk

Following Lawsuit, Philadelphia to Add or Fix 10,000 Curb Cuts

Disability rights advocates won a settlement that directs the city to improve accessibility on its public roads over the next 15 years.

October 19, 2022 - WHYY

Man crossing crosswalk with seeing eye dog and cane

Opinion: Make Safe, Slow Streets the Default

For people with disabilities or limited mobility, a lack of safe infrastructure can cause significant disruptions, delays, and safety hazards.

October 12, 2022 - Next City

Woman in wheelchair working at a home office desk

How Remote Work is Changing the Playing Field for Workers With Disabilities

The more widespread acceptance of working from home is helping millions of Americans with disabilities get back into the workforce and find better job opportunities.

October 4, 2022 - Bloomberg

Black and white photo of crosswalk

Report: Dallas Needs $54 Million in Sidewalk Ramps and Crosswalk Repairs

The city, which recently adopted a Vision Zero action plan, has one of the nation’s highest pedestrian fatality rates.

June 29, 2022 - FOX 4 News

Curb cuts at an intersection in Neponsit, Queens, New York

Federal Government to Enforce Accessibility Guidelines

Local agencies will soon be tasked with adhering to federal right-of-way accessibility rules: comprehensive guidelines for accessible streets and sidewalks.

December 30, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

New York Subway Coronavirus

Zoning for Transit Accessibility

Using zoning codes to improve accessibility to public transit facilities is a new, but well overdue, idea.

October 21, 2021 - Intelligent Transport

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.