Removing ramps violates ADA

The Herald's March 15th article on handicap ramps (curb cuts) was missing some vital information. This issue is not about fixing a few handicap ramps, although there are plenty of noncompliant ramps in town. The Village of Arlington Heights is removing sections of sidewalk and handicap ramps throughout town. According to the chief researcher of the Access Board, the agency that writes the regulations for enforcing the ADA, this is in violation of the ADA.

Because of our patchwork of neighborhoods with and without sidewalks and with and without cul-de-sacs, these removals can create a minor inconvenience, or, where an individual might have to travel 10 or 20 additional feet, a major inconvenience. In one location where the village has threatened to remove a section of sidewalk and the adjacent ramp, the additional travel would be a quarter-mile, one-way for a regularly traveled trip. These removals force people to spend more time in the street.

This is more than an ADA question; we're all inconvenienced by these removals. While other cities are making their communities more pedestrian friendly, why would Arlington Heights spend our tax money making life more difficult?

We are encouraged that the village board intends to discuss this matter later this year. However, the construction season starts soon and we have asked the village to place a moratorium on the removal of any existing handicap ramps and sidewalks with adjacent handicap ramps until this issue is discussed.

Bob Spielman

Mary Anne O'Toole

Arlington Heights