S-4126               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4726

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Wojahn and Conner

Read first time 1/21/86 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to curb ramps for handicapped; and amending RCW 35.68.075.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 83, Laws of 1973 as amended by section 1, chapter 137, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 35.68.075 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The standard for construction of curbs on any county, city, or town street, or any connecting street or town road for which curbs ((and sidewalks have been prescribed by the governing body of the county, town, or city having jurisdiction thereover)) are to be constructed, shall be not less than two ramps per lineal block on or near the crosswalks at intersections.  Such ramps shall be at least thirty-six inches wide and so constructed as to allow reasonable access to the crosswalk for physically handicapped persons, without uniquely endangering blind persons.

          (2) Standards set for curb ramping under subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any curb existing upon enactment of this section but shall apply to all new curb construction and to all replacement curbs constructed at any point in a block which gives reasonable access to a crosswalk.

          (3) Upon September 21, 1977, every ramp thereafter constructed under subsection (1) of this section, which serves one end of a crosswalk, shall be matched by another ramp at the other end of the crosswalk.  However, no ramp shall be required at the other end of the crosswalk if there is no curb nor sidewalk at the other end of the crosswalk.  Nor shall any matching ramp constructed pursuant to this subsection require a subsequent matching ramp.