design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

Accessible sidewalks with frequent seating provide opportunities for rest.
Trails with gentle slope for accessibility.
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Benefi ts
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Tactile warning strips alert visually
impaired people of approaching hazards
Benches and seatwalls provide resting
opportunities for people with impaired
mobility
Handrails at steps and ramps off er
additional support for those with mobility
impairments
Ramps provide an accessible route where
elevation changes abruptly
Universal design symbols assist those
with hearing and learning impairments
as well as those who are illiterate in the
local language(s).
Cost Considerations
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Tactile warning strips with truncated
domes can cost $250-$800 per application
depending upon the material chosen.
Ductile iron is the most expensive, but
also the longest lasting.
Adding grooves into freshly poured
concrete at the tops of steps can add $100
to $200 in labor.
Benches with backs and arm rests range
in price between $500 and $2000 installed.
Consumers should expect to pay 10-15%
more for models with arm rests and
backs.
Constructing a ramp can cost between
$100 and $300 per lineal foot, depending
upon materials and site issues.
Design & Maintenance Considerations
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Typhlo canes won’t detect objects above
waist height, so designers should eliminate
projections into public walkways above
27 inches in height.
Tactile warning strips with truncated
domes are required wherever pedestrian
traffi c enters a vehicular-use area. This is
usually a crosswalk at a public street, but
can also be a service yard, alley, or parking
lot. Tactile warnings must be a contrasting
color to the adjacent pavement.
Tactile warning strips are recommended
at the tops of stairs - a common treatment
uses recessed parallel grooves.
Cross slopes on accessible routes should
not exceed 2%.
Avoid tactile warnings that are stamped
into dyed, poured-in-place concrete as
these wear away quickly – choose longer
lasting precast tiles, or tiles made of resin
composites, stone, or cast ductile iron
Benches should be provided with tall
backs and arm rests to assist people with
mobility impairments
ADAAG defi nes a ramp as any running
slope between 1:20 (5%) and 1:12 (8.3%).
Ramps are required to have handrails.
Ramps may also require guardrails if they
are over 30 inches above the ground.
SAN JACINTO TEXAS HISTORIC DISTRICT CORRIDOR STANDARDS │ 149