By Kevin McCarty
December 19, 2011

Responding to a formal request from leaders of the three elected official organizations, including the Conference of Mayors, the U.S. Access Board extended the comment period on proposed accessibility rules for pedestrian facilities, an action that will support further public review of the potentially significant costs and facility impacts for cities, towns and counties.

In a November 23 letter, the executive directors of the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cites (NLC) and Conference of Mayors wrote, "We respectfully request this action [extension] to ensure that the final guidelines, and the subsequent standards to be established, are subject to a more thorough review of the issues posed by this far-reaching proposal. After all, these guidelines will influence the design and even the reengineering of sidewalks, curbs, crossings, signals and other elements of the nation's most valuable and ubiquitous public asset – the local public right-of-way."

In extending the comment period until February 2, 2012, Access Board Executive David M. Capozzi cited the local government organizations' letter as a basis for the action. The Access Board's full proposal, Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way, can be viewed at: http://www.access'board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm. An overview of the proposal can be found at: http://www.access'board.gov/prowac/nprm-guide.htm.

NACo, NLC and the Conference of Mayors are using the extension period to encourage cities and counties to review the proposed guidelines and provide comments by the February 2 deadline. To view specific requirements for filing comments by the new deadline and related information, please go to: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-05/html/2011-31089.htm.