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2 <br /> Sidewalk Accessibility and Connectivity: <br /> The County is responsible for maintaining the sidewalks on its own property. The original Facilities <br /> Accessibility Self-Assessment measured the width, slope, and surface integrity of all sidewalks <br /> connecting an accessible parking space and the main accessible entrance(s)of all County facilities. <br /> In response to Commissioner Jacobs' petition, The County Sustainability Coordinator partnered with the <br /> County Transportation Planner and other staff from the Planning and Inspections Department to plan and <br /> conduct the sidewalk accessibility assessment. After recruiting the assistance of a very capable intern <br /> from the UNC Sustainable Triangle Field Site, the assessment was expanded to include a more <br /> comprehensive assessment and mapping of County sidewalks, and also the bike racks, and bus stops on <br /> County-managed property. Field work was conducted throughout the Fall of 2016 and all of the findings <br /> were entered into the County's Geographical Information System (GIS)database so that it would be most <br /> useful for future planning efforts. The additional benefit to accessibility of the mapping effort is that Asset <br /> Management Services knows exactly where to go throughout the County's 5.1 miles of sidewalks to verify <br /> and address the possible accessibility issues that were identified. <br /> Beyond this assessment, large-scale sidewalk assessments and improvements are conducted on an <br /> ongoing iterative basis by the County and by municipalities within the County. The County assesses and <br /> plans for pedestrian infrastructure improvements during the Comprehensive Transportation Planning <br /> (CTP) process. The last CTP was created in 2013 and these plans are often updated every 4 or 5 years <br /> and public input on sidewalk improvements and other transportation priorities is sought in this process. <br /> Many of the main roads and sidewalks both inside and outside of the jurisdiction of Orange County's <br /> municipalities are managed by the NCDOT. In the fall of 2015, James Davis reached out to the <br /> accessibility specialist at NCDOT and learned that resources may be available to assist with accessibility <br /> assessments and improvements along NCDOT-maintained roads such as Churton Street(NC 86)and <br /> NC 70. Staff will renew that connection and will get more information about what level of assessment is <br /> possible and on which corridors in the County. <br /> Municipalities throughout Orange County have their own ongoing processes in place for assessing and <br /> addressing sidewalk connectivity and maintenance issues. The Town of Hillsborough developed a <br /> comprehensive "Community Connectivity Plan" in 2009 (updated in 2013)to assess sidewalk issues and <br /> prioritize improvements and they have a current"Sidewalk Connections Project". No later than April of this <br /> year, the Town of Hillsborough will begin a 7-month project to increase accessibility along a large section <br /> of Churton Street in downtown, in a project called the "Churton Street Access Improvements Project". <br /> Chapel Hill's sidewalk priorities are laid out in their 2014 Bike Plan. They have historically assessed their <br /> sidewalk infrastructure through regular"Mobility Report Cards." <br /> Accessible Signage (braille and other) and Elevators: <br /> One of the six sections of the Facilities Accessibility Assessment Checklist relates entirely to high-contrast <br /> and tactile signage, braille and other types of wayfinding assistance for the visually impaired. Beyond the <br /> ADA standards, assessment teams have consistently identified opportunities to increase visual contrast <br /> on stairways and at abrupt changes in the slope of sidewalks and interior walkways. Several types of <br /> signage improvements have been identified in the Facilities Accessibility Assessments, including a lack of <br /> braille on some County elevators such as the Whitted meeting room elevator. County staff will begin <br /> upgrading signage this Spring and will address any remaining signage concerns in the next fiscal year. <br /> Hearing Impairment Technologies,Website, and Document Accessibility: <br /> To assist County residents with hearing impairments, the County's telephone device for the deaf(TDD) <br /> number is listed first on the "Contact" page of the County website. This TDD line is answered by the <br /> Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Department and allows for residents and County <br /> staff to communicate through text over the telephone lines. Several other technologies are also now <br /> available for convenient text communication (Ex- email, instant messenger, etc) but the County maintains <br /> this equipment in the case that some residents may still rely on the TDD system. County staff in the <br /> Housing, Human Rights and Community Development Department are unaware of any TDD calls in the <br />