Lewisville updates ADA transition plan, proposes PROWAG adoption and web dashboard for accessibility tracking

City staff and outside consultants presented the first-phase findings of Lewisville's updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) self-evaluation and transition plan and recommended next steps, including adoption of the Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and a web-based dashboard for monitoring accessibility improvements.

Chris Presley, Facilities and ADA Compliance Supervisor, and consultants from Kimley Horn described the plan's legal basis in Title II of the ADA and noted that failure to meet Title II requirements can affect federal and state funding and expose the city to Department of Justice oversight or private lawsuits. The presentation summarized facility evaluations, gaps in documentation for previously completed work, and a proposed prioritization approach for curb ramps and other accessibility projects.

The consultants demonstrated a dashboard that aggregates public-rights-of-way and facility inspections, estimates planning-level construction costs for evaluated sites, and enables staff to track implementation over time. A slide referenced a planning-level Phase 1 cost (presented on the slide as approximately $400,000) for the evaluated facilities; presenters said the estimate excludes overhead and mobilization and covers only the facilities reviewed in this phase.

Why it matters: Staff urged council to treat the transition plan as a living document to be integrated into annual budgeting and capital planning. Adoption of PROWAG at the city level was recommended so the city can enforce consistent pedestrian-facility standards and avoid federal imposition of timelines through enforcement actions.

Next steps: Staff will hold a public input meeting, finalize the transition plan with public feedback, return to council for formal adoption, and bring a Unified Development Code amendment to reference the drainage/PROWAG standards. Council members asked for annual summaries of waivers and deviations and clarity on implementation timing and budgeting.