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Charlottesville updating ADA transition plan, seeking public input

Crystal Graham
senior man in wheelchair
(© luckybusiness – stock.adobe.com)

The City of Charlottesville is working to update its Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan with a self-assessment of facilities, parks, programs, services and the city website.

The city completed an assessment of the city’s Right of Way this week with more than 165 miles of sidewalk reviewed for accessibility barriers. City parks and facilities will be assessed this fall.

“The City of Charlottesville believes that all city facilities, programs and services should be accessible to all members of the community,” ADA Coordinator Paul Rudacille said. “While we are continuously working on improving accessibility, an updated transition plan will help us benchmark where we are now and develop a roadmap for where we can be in the future.”

Charlottesville has contracted with Precision Infrastructure Management, a consulting firm, to perform, manage and draft the final ADA transition plan with city support.

“Updating Charlottesville’s transition plan, which was last updated in 2013, will further many of the goals from the 2021 Comprehensive Plan update,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “We are committed to making our beautiful city accessible to all members of the community, whether it’s our pedestrian areas or city facilities. Investing in this transition plan update shows that Charlottesville backs up words with action too.”

Public input: Townhall meeting or online survey

A crucial part of the ADA transition plan process is public input.

  • A townhall-style meeting to solicit feedback will be hosted on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at CitySpace.
  • A survey has also been created for Charlottesville community members to participate in the process. The long-form survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The abbreviated survey takes two minutes or less.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.