Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

A6−6: Temporary Pedestrian Access Routes (TPAR)

DESCRIPTION:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has adopted Public Rights−of−Way Accessibility Guidance of 2005 (PROWAG) as its standard for implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on the State Highway system, including during maintenance and construction activities. MnDOT also gathered input from pedestrians with disabilities regarding devices to be used to redirect pedestrians through/around work zone areas. From these sources and the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), MnDOT developed standards and guidelines to implement Temporary Pedestrian Access Routes (TPAR) through areas impacted by maintenance and construction. Standard layouts have been designed and are available in the Temporary Traffic Control Zone Layouts Field Manual (February 2011), which is part of Minnesota's MUTCD. Also available in the document are diagrams with appropriate dimensions and parameters for TPAR routes and devices. More information is available at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/workzone/tpar.html.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

To meet standards set in the Federal MUTCD for making pedestrian routes through/around work zones accessible.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Ensuring that pedestrians (including those with disabilities) are accommodated when pedestrian routes are impacted by construction and maintenance activities.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

Any work zone that impacts an accessible route for pedestrians.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

Minnesota

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Ken E. Johnson, Work Zone & Pavement Marking Engineer, Minnesota DOT
Phone: (651) 234−7386
E−mail: ken.johnson@state.mn.us