WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ROUTES:
The main path of travel for everyone to get from Maloney Hall or the 5th floor designated wheelchair route is up the 44 stairs of the O'Neill Atrium. They placed an inclined lift on the stairs that is so unsafe, it appears better suited as a diving board hovering over the stairs. They put an inspection pass sticker on it, then they locked it with a padlock. There is no access from the bottom of the stairs to the classrooms and kiosk computers open 24/7. Boston College has an obligation to provide safe access and an accessible route that coincides with the route of the public (521CMR accessible route). The sign on the door states to use the elevator from the Commonwealth Garage to get to the top of middle campus. They leave out the most important part of it, the route to the garage, and across a snow filled parking lot (most of the academic year there is snow/ice, etc). The parking lot has been closed down over a dozen times. The slopes of the walkway is far too steep to be called a walkway. The parking lot is for cars, not designed in mind for slope, even grade, as is required for an accessible route. BC presently has a citation from the MAAB regarding shutting down an accessible feature. Elevator lifts to provide access to the computers and classrooms, when O'Neill library is not open, is required for full programmatic access for all of the public who need to travel to Gasson Hall. There are many other problems with accessible route from the O'Neill Plaza. It is impossible to travel from the main entrance of O'Neill to Bapst Library or Gasson Hall due to the presence of stairs. They even have what appears to be a switch-back ramp that ihas stairs at the end. It is the most bizarre set up. Clearly, BC has not given any attention for persons with disabilities on campus. This needs to change… now. Wheelchair users should not have to be carried up stairs to get to computers and other accessible points or be denied access. The accessible route to the elevator at Bapst Library had been obstructed with stairs. Who is watching to make sure that students and faculty, staff are not being discriminated against by architectural barriers? Will BC put together a 504 Transition Accessibility Plan? Are they waiting for complaints to the state to force compliance that is not voluntary? BC is a Jesuit College. I think we all expect and deserve better than this.*
The main path of travel for everyone to get from Maloney Hall or the 5th floor designated wheelchair route is up the 44 stairs of the O'Neill Atrium. They placed an inclined lift on the stairs that is so unsafe, it appears better suited as a diving board hovering over the stairs. They put an inspection pass sticker on it, then they locked it with a padlock. There is no access from the bottom of the stairs to the classrooms and kiosk computers open 24/7. Boston College has an obligation to provide safe access and an accessible route that coincides with the route of the public (521CMR accessible route). The sign on the door states to use the elevator from the Commonwealth Garage to get to the top of middle campus. They leave out the most important part of it, the route to the garage, and across a snow filled parking lot (most of the academic year there is snow/ice, etc). The parking lot has been closed down over a dozen times. The slopes of the walkway is far too steep to be called a walkway. The parking lot is for cars, not designed in mind for slope, even grade, as is required for an accessible route. BC presently has a citation from the MAAB regarding shutting down an accessible feature. Elevator lifts to provide access to the computers and classrooms, when O'Neill library is not open, is required for full programmatic access for all of the public who need to travel to Gasson Hall. There are many other problems with accessible route from the O'Neill Plaza. It is impossible to travel from the main entrance of O'Neill to Bapst Library or Gasson Hall due to the presence of stairs. They even have what appears to be a switch-back ramp that ihas stairs at the end. It is the most bizarre set up. Clearly, BC has not given any attention for persons with disabilities on campus. This needs to change… now. Wheelchair users should not have to be carried up stairs to get to computers and other accessible points or be denied access. The accessible route to the elevator at Bapst Library had been obstructed with stairs. Who is watching to make sure that students and faculty, staff are not being discriminated against by architectural barriers? Will BC put together a 504 Transition Accessibility Plan? Are they waiting for complaints to the state to force compliance that is not voluntary? BC is a Jesuit College. I think we all expect and deserve better than this.*
521CMR Building Code of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (partial copy of codes from website
20.1 GENERAL
An accessible route shall provide a continuous unobstructed path connecting accessible spaces and elements inside and outside a facility. Accessible routes may include but are not limited to walks, halls, corridors, aisles, skywalks, and tunnels. Accessible routes may not include stairs, steps, or escalators, even if the stairs and steps are required to be accessible under 521 CMR.
20.2 LOCATION
Within the boundary of the site, an accessible route(s) shall be provided from accessible parking, accessible passenger loading zones, and public streets or sidewalks to the accessible building entrance they serve. The accessible route(s) shall coincide with the route for the general public.
20.2.1 At least one accessible route shall connect accessible buildings, facilities, elements and spaces that are on the same site.
20.1 GENERAL
An accessible route shall provide a continuous unobstructed path connecting accessible spaces and elements inside and outside a facility. Accessible routes may include but are not limited to walks, halls, corridors, aisles, skywalks, and tunnels. Accessible routes may not include stairs, steps, or escalators, even if the stairs and steps are required to be accessible under 521 CMR.
20.2 LOCATION
Within the boundary of the site, an accessible route(s) shall be provided from accessible parking, accessible passenger loading zones, and public streets or sidewalks to the accessible building entrance they serve. The accessible route(s) shall coincide with the route for the general public.
20.2.1 At least one accessible route shall connect accessible buildings, facilities, elements and spaces that are on the same site.
- 20.3 WIDTH
An accessible route shall have a minimum clear width of 36 inches (36" = 914 mm) except at doors and at openings less than 24 inches (24" = 610mm) deep where it shall comply with 521 CMR 26, DOORS AND DOORWAYS. -
- SURFACE TEXTURES
The surface of an accessible route shall comply with 521 CMR 29, FLOOR SURFACES.
- 20.9 SLOPE AND CROSS SLOPE
An accessible route with a running slope steeper than 1:20 (5%) is a ramp and shall comply with 521 CMR 24, RAMPS. Nowhere shall the cross slope of an accessible route exceed 1:50 (2%).
- 20.10 CHANGES IN LEVELS
Changes in levels along an accessible route shall comply with 521 CMR 29.2, Level Changes. See Fig 20h.
- SURFACE TEXTURES