Maryland County Approves $9.1M to Make Walkways ADA Compliant

Frederick County officials in western Maryland have approved paying more than $9 million to fix sidewalks and ramps that fail to meet the standards of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

County commissioners made that unanimous decision Thursday. The move comes at the behest of the state, which found that the county’s walkways aren’t in compliance with federal law.

The Maryland State Highway Administration issued a directive earlier this year requiring the county to develop an action plan to fix the problem.

The Frederick News-Post reports that the county’s 10-year plan calls for first tackling transportation corridors and routes to schools before expanding to other residential areas. The $9.1 million approved for the plan covers only construction costs, not design, inspection, or project management.