By Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH
On July 24, 2023, in a blog titled, “Accessibility: The Questions I’m learning to Ask,” I wrote about the 33rd birthday of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), juxtaposed with the stark reality that Baltimore is not accessible for people with disabilities. In that same blog, I discussed a Baltimore Banner article that cited it would cost the city over $650 million to make the city accessible.
On November 14, 2024, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that, as part of a settlement agreement with a group of city residents stemming from a 2021 lawsuit, the city of Baltimore will enter into a four-year multi-million dollar partial consent decree to improve the infrastructure and accessibility of the city. The projected $44 million transaction is currently set to start on July 1, 2024 and end on June 30, 2028, but the period of the agreement is based on Board of Estimates Approval (see page 106-107). Baltimore plans to spend between $8-$10 million on pedestrian upgrades in fiscal year 2025, $12-$12.5 million in fiscal 2026 and 2027, and $12-$15 million in fiscal 2028. Therefore, the annual commitment totals $44 million, but the additional contingent amount has the potential to total $50 million over the span of four years In 2028, the consent decree will be up for negotiation.[i] Under the commitment, funds have been allocated for pedestrian walkways and an allotted number of installing or remediating curb ramps each year.
“Under the settlement, the city will also name an ADA Coordinator dedicated to:
– maintaining pedestrian rights of way
– implement a pedestrian inspection program to monitor accessibility on a 10-year basis
– launch a maintenance program to make sure trash and vegetation are cleared from pedestrian
areas annually.”[1]
In his statement, Mayor Scott provided historic context for the city’s infrastructure; “[a]s is the case in many historic East Coast cities, the challenge posed by our city’s sidewalks and curbs long predates the [ADA] and adequately changing our infrastructure poses a monumental task.”[2]
He also voiced his commitment to making changes; “[h]owever, under my administration, we are committed to taking every action necessary to set the city on track to come into compliance with the ADA, and ensure Baltimore is more accessible to our disabled community than ever before.”[3]
Today, the Board of Estimates will vote on the settlement agreement—a final obstacle before its approval.
[1] Amanda Yeager. Baltimoresun.com. Nov. 14, 2024. Accessed on Nov. 15, 2024 Baltimore settles ADA lawsuit, will pay $44M for upgrades.
[2] Amanda Yeager. Baltimoresun.com. Nov. 14, 2024. Accessed on Nov. 15, 2024 Baltimore settles ADA lawsuit, will pay $44M for upgrades
[3] Amanda Yeager. Baltimoresun.com. Nov. 14, 2024. Accessed on Nov. 15, 2024 Baltimore settles ADA lawsuit, will pay $44M for upgrades
[i] Author’s note: This agreement requires the city to spend $44-$50 million over four years. The original lawsuit alleged “widespread and ongoing” violations of the federal accessibility requirements. The Baltimore Banner article cited above quoted an amount over $650 million to make Baltimore fully accessible. However, this settlement is a step forward towards ensuring that people with disabilities can fully enjoy and navigate the currently inaccessible Baltimore sidewalks (and all the restaurants, museums, landmarks, etc. on those sidewalks—including accessing transportation from them)!
