WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - A city in northeast Iowa is removing bus benches after riders complained to the U.S. Department of Justice that the benches failed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The Waterloo City Council unanimously voted on Monday to approve a removal agreement with The Bench Company, which has provided the city with around 130 benches since the 1980s. The city is working to replace about 50 benches after a federal court ordered Waterloo to meet ADA compliance, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported .
“This agreement will essentially speed up the phase out of the existing benches,” City Planner Aric Schroeder said.
Riders complained in 2011 that many of the city’s bus benches weren’t accessible to individuals with disabilities, including people using wheelchairs, because the benches weren’t connected to sidewalks that were paved or promptly shoveled after snowfalls.
Under the agreement approved this week, Bradley Knudson, owner of The Bench Company, is permitted to keep 25 bus benches in strategic locations until May, as long as they’re properly maintained.
“We wanted to make sure at least . during the winter that folks that did ride the bus had some place to sit within the most popular areas,” Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart said.
The City Council’s agreement requires that Knudson pay the city $5,000 for immediate removal of the remaining benches. Knudson will also pay for the removal of the final 25 benches in the spring.
In order to comply with the federal order, the city must replace 27 bus stops by the end of the 2018-2019 fiscal year. City Public Works employees have completed the concrete work at seven sites so far.
Waterloo officials haven’t decided what type of benches will be installed at newly paved bus stops. They anticipate a decision by spring.
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Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, http://www.wcfcourier.com
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