If You Have A Mobility and/or Vision Disability And Currently Or In The Future Will Use Or Attempt To Use (1) Caltrans Sidewalks, Cross-walks, Pedestrian Overcrossings, Pedestrian Undercrossings, Outdoor Pedestrian Walkways; (2) Caltrans Park and Ride Facilities; and/or (3) Other Caltrans’s Facilities in the Public Right of Way, Such as Certain Highway Shoulders or Temporary Routes Through and Around Work Zones, Owned and/or Maintained by the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”), Your Rights May Be Affected By a Class Action Settlement.
A class action settlement has been reached in two pending class action lawsuits brought on behalf of people with mobility and/or vision disabilities against California Department of Transportation (styled Californians for Disability Rights, et al. v. California Department of Transportation, et al., N.D. Cal. Case No. C 06-5125 SBA and Californians for Disability Rights, et al. v. California Department of Transportation, et al., Alameda County Superior Court No. RG08376549) alleging that the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) has discriminated against persons with mobility and/or vision disabilities by denying them access to sidewalks, cross-walks, pedestrian overcrossings, pedestrian undercrossings, other outdoor pedestrian walkways (“pedestrian facilities”) and Park and Ride facilities owned or maintained by Caltrans, according to the Caltrans Disability Discrimination Class Action Settlement Notice.
The Caltrans disability discrimination class action settlement agreement reportedly provides that Caltrans will spend $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to remove access barriers along existing pedestrian facilities and within existing Park and Ride facilities. In addition to the $1.1 billion fund for removal of access barriers in existing facilities, Caltrans has agreed that when it resurfaces its roadways, Caltrans will upgrade existing but non-compliant curb ramps and/or install new curb ramps where they are lacking along the sidewalks adjacent to the resurfacing project.
Caltrans will also ensure that it follows federal and state accessibility guidelines when undertaking new construction or alterations of pedestrian facilities and/or Park and Ride facilities. Caltrans will also provide access at Temporary Routes and access at Work Zones and Caltrans will make its best efforts to ensure that Temporary Routes, when provided through and around Work Zones, are accessible to pedestrians with disabilities.
The Caltrans settlement agreement does not provide for any monetary relief to be paid to any plaintiffs or members of the class or release any damage claims such class members may have.
For more information on the Caltrans California Department of Transportation Disability Discrimination class action lawsuit settlement and potential settlement benefits, and/or for updates on the settlement, visit the Caltrans class action settlement website:
www.dralegal.org/cases/public_entities/Caltrans_Settlement.php
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