Lincolnwood Plan for Accessible Streets & Sidewalks

Lincolnwood is studying how sidewalks, crosswalks, and pathways serve people with disabilities. The goal is to create streets that allow everyone to navigate their community safely. Please join us in this effort.

Access Lincolnwood is the name of the plan. It has two phases: a self-evaluation and a transition plan. A Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) grant funds the plan. CMAP is leading efforts to develop these plans for several cities. For more on CMAP's work to help people with disabilities, see this link(External link).

What does a Plan for Accessible Streets & Sidewalks include?

Title II of the ADA prohibits Lincolnwood from discriminating against people with disabilities. To prevent discrimination, the ADA requires a self-evaluation and transition plan. The plan identifies those responsible for implementing the plan.

Self-Evaluation

The self-evaluation of the streets and sidewalks focuses on identifying existing conditions by:

• Finding physical obstacles and policies that limit access.
  
• Seeking public input to develop the plan. This includes identifying where people face challenges in navigating sidewalks, crosswalks, and pathways.

Street features that may challenge people with disabilities are:

1. Broken (or nonexistent) sidewalks.
2. Intersections without curb ramps and crosswalks.

3. Inaccessible street parking.

These barriers can prevent people from accessing jobs, education, healthcare, and transit. They can also limit access to vital community services and amenities.

Transition Plan

This occurs after the Self-Evaluation is complete. It includes:

• Describing how facilities will meet ADA requirements. The focus is on key streets serving public buildings, parks, and transit.
• Developing a schedule to show when this will occur.
• Identifying policies and programs that impact street access for people with disabilities.

Lincolnwood must also post public notices and grievance procedures required by the ADA.

How can I get involved?

The focus of the plan is on people with disabilities. We want input from everyone. This includes those who are caretakers of people with disabilities. It includes older adults, parents, and students. You can be a visitor to Lincolnwood and still provide input on where you see access needs.

• Public Input Survey: An online survey is available through this link(External link).
• Sign up to receive project updates through the survey link.
• Public Events: The first input meeting was held in November 2024. The public input meeting will be in spring 2025.
• Stakeholder Interviews: We need input from organizations that works with people with disabilities. Contact Brendon Mendoza (information above) to schedule an interview with the project consultant.