Pedestrian movement is largely dependent upon the inclusion of sidewalks in the site design. The safety of users will be prioritized in sidewalk design. At exterior door locations a frost slab shall be included beneath the walking surface to prevent cracking and heaving.
Public Connection
The layout of all sidewalks internal to the school property must provide connections to sidewalks located in the public right-of-way. As a requirement for school fire drills, pedestrian routes shall connect building emergency egress, entry plazas, parking lots, bicycle parking, and drop-off areas to public sidewalks.
Accessibility
All walks shall comply with universal accessibility; further information is provided in Section 1.10 Site Accessibility. Where street furniture, utilities, or other obstructions are present on a sidewalk, a five-foot offset will be maintained to provide a means of continuous pedestrian movement. At all 90 degree turns, a 60”x 60” landing will be included to allow for wheelchair maneuvering. Constructed walking and rolling surfaces shall not exceed maximum slopes and cross slopes in any accessible location. See below for slope requirements:
- 2% is the maximum allowable cross slope for accessible routes. Accessible parking and other “level” areas shall be designed at 1.5%.
- 5% in the direction of travel is the maximum allowable slope on an accessible route without needing to meet all ramp requirements. Preferred design slope is 4.25%.
- 8.33% is the maximum allowable slope of ramps and curb ramps. Whenever possible ramps shall be designed at 7.5% for adults and 5.8% for children.
- Slopes steeper than 8.33% not allowed except in existing facilities with conditions that make it technically impossible to use a more gradual slope.
Refer to Volume 3 Sections 1.6.1 Paving Materials and 1.10 Site Accessibility for more information regarding paving materials and accessibility.