Historic Areas Accessible?

SSA recently completed working with the historic City of Monterey in updating its Transition Plan to provide disability access. Cities are required to create a Transition Plan, which documents facilities that are not compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and explains how the City will transition into one that is entirely ADA compliant, an ongoing process.

SSA surveyed the entire perimeter of Monterey Bay, and its many waterfront facilities, as well as walking trails, bike paths and view locations. Part of the scope included the City’s historic waterfront attractions: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Cannery Row.  The City’s jurisdiction also covers one of the most environmentally sensitive areas on the West Coast.

The ADA requires that people with disabilities have access to all public facilities, which includes physical access into and within a building, and along sidewalks and trails. Complying with the ADA can be a harder task for historic cities because many of their older buildings weren’t built with ADA code requirements in mind. Widening the front entrance, building a long entrance ramp, and adding a few elevators may substantially alter appearances; in many cases these changes would require structural work, requiring further alterations. Sensitive environmental areas, including wilderness areas and some waterfront areas also pose a challenge in applying ADA regulations.  A careful balancing act is required to preserve historical, natural, and cultural features while keeping in mind the importance of allowing those with disabilities to have equal access to facilities.

The City of Monterey now has a list of ADA access barriers, which are prioritized from most severe to least, depending on the location and severity of the impediment. Each year, a percentage of these access barriers will be addressed, through Capital Improvement Projects and City maintenance.