The city of Durango has hired a contractor to design improvements for sidewalks and transit stops along north Main Avenue to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Improvements the community is requesting include upgrades to existing curb ramps, new ADA-compliant curb ramps, and improvements at and around transit stops on north Main Avenue, according to a news release.
About 17 transit stops singled out in the city’s 2016 ADA Transition Plan will receive new shelters, expanded landing pads, benches, lighting and bike racks.
Designs are expected to be completed next year before construction begins and will require a survey and inventory of north Main Avenue, including meetings with property owners. Public meetings are planned for late fall, the release said.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is funding the ADA project via two Senate bills, according to the city. Funding will pay for $4.5 million of design and construction, and the city will match $1.125 million from its 2015 half cent sales and use tax fund.
Devin King, city multimodal manager, said in the release north Main Avenue needs accessibility improvements that residents have been requesting for years.
“It’s great to finally get out there and start designing improvements,” he said.
Past sidewalk improvements, namely ramps, on the north Main Avenue corridor were carried out by CDOT in 2018 and 2019, specifically at the intersections of 17th, 22nd and 32nd streets.
cburney@durangoherald.com
