THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS
OF THE
COUNTY OF MONMOUTH

MALCOLM V. CARTON
MONMOUTH COUNTY COUNSEL
                                                               514 GARFIELD AVENUE
P.O. BOX 97
AVON, N.J. 07717
ROBERT D. FACCONE
FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY COUNSEL
TELEPHONE 732-776-7777
FAX# 732-776-6901

       November 1, 1999              

SENT VIA FACSIMILE & U.S. MAIL


Carolyn Schwebel, Co-Chairperson
The Equalizers

RE: ADA Requirements for Curb Cuts

Dear Ms. Schwebel:

As promised, the County engineer has completed an evaluation of recent ADA related curb cuts advanced as part of various County initiatives. These initiatives include such things as general roadway, bridge, or intersection improvement projects, the County's  annual resurfacing program, bridge or roadway maintenance contracts, or general assistance to municipalities. A summary of such improvements is included on the attached sheet.


Regarding County policy concerning the advancement of such ADA improvements, please be advised that concrete curb cuts and ramps are included in every new project at corners where sidewalks exist or are proposed for construction as part of the project in
question. For corners where curbing is proposed as part of a contract, but sidewalks do not exist and are not proposed, the curb is depressed and the area behind the curb is graded as a sloped area in order to accept a concrete ramp in the future, when and if sidewalks are constructed. Please understand that County responsibility for maintenance of roadways extends only from face of curb to face of curb, and that the construction of new sidewalks is a municipal responsibility.  Regardless,
Monmouth County has made a policy of cooperating with municipalities when local sidewalk projects are advanced and has adopted a policy of constructing curb cuts as part of all new construction at all locations where required.


In addition to the initiatives described above, please be advised that Monmouth County is also in the process of administering a federally funded project which will result in the construction of sections  'missing link" sidewalks in various municipalities. This project
has an estimated cost of approximately $1,300,000. All such new construction will include ADA improvements at all locations where necessary. Not only will this project result in the construction of sidewalks along County roadways where needed and where none exist at present, but this work will also provide ADA required improvements throughout the limits of work. Although plans are still under design, the County Engineer has advised that this work will result in approximately 11 miles of new sidewalk and 54 new concrete curb cuts and ramps. Curb cuts and ramps will be constructed at all corners where work is to be performed.


The Freeholders of the County of Monmouth have placed a high priority on the advancement of ADA improvements, and I believe that this is reflected in our policy, our accomplishments, and in our proposed future improvements. If you wish to discuss these matters in greater detail, representatives of the office of the Monmouth County Engineer are available to meet with you to discuss any concerns or suggestions that you may have. In the event that you would like such a meeting, please contact Theodore A. Giannechini, P.E., P.L.S., Monmouth County Engineer, at 431-7760.


Very truly yours,


Malcolm V. Carton
County Counsel


c:
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Robert J. Collins, County Administrator
Richard C. Wenner, Clerk of the Board
Mark E. Acker, Director of Finance
Daniel J. Wolfe, Director of Public Works & Engineering
Theodore A. Giannechini, County Engineer
Alexander Buono, Office on Disabilities
Richard P. Kucinski, Supervising Engineer

 

Attachment:


ADA IMPROVEMENTS SUMMARY
CURB CUTS AND RAMPS
1995 THROUGH PRESENT

 

YEAR RESURFACING
PROGRAM
ROADWAY PROJECTS BRIDGE PROJECTS INTERSECTION
PROJECTS
MISCELLANEOUS
1995 0 39 12 22 20
1996 34 16 10 8 0
1997 144 0 8 13 0
1998 59 26 8 12 0
1999 57 0 10 15 6
TOTALS 294 81 48 70 26

 

TOTAL, ALL SOURCES                                        519