Every day, people in Seattle rely on the city’s sidewalks to get where they need to go. But for people with mobility disabilities, a lack of accessible curb cuts or ramps can make it impossible to navigate the city safely. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires cities like Seattle to install and repair curb cuts, so that everyone can enjoy what the city has to offer.
But in 2015, 25 years after the ADA became law, the City of Seattle still lacked the curb cuts necessary to allow people with mobility disabilities to go to school, work, doctor’s appointments, and libraries, and to access government services. So DRW filed a lawsuit against the City, Reynoldson et al v. City of Seattle, No. 2:15-cv-01608. We demanded that the City of Seattle make its streets safe and accessible. In 2017, DRW and its co-counsel reached a settlement agreement with the City of Seattle. They agreed to an 18-year plan for Seattle to create more curb cuts across the whole city.
We are now about halfway through the settlement period. Over the last nine years, the City of Seattle has constructed or repaired 11,777 total ramps. That total includes 1,424 ramps requested by members of the community with disabilities.
There’s a long way to go, but we are proud of the progress made so far. And DRW and our co-counsel will be making sure the City stays on the track.
If you have a mobility disability and want to request that the City add curb ramps to specific intersections, you can fill out a request here: Make an ADA Infrastructure Request – Transportation | seattle.gov.
