City of Torrance Public Works Department Engineering Division
Engineering Manager: Craig Bilezerian, P.E. Project Engineer: Henry Completo
Description: The Residential Curb, Gutter & Sidewalk Replacement Program is part of a multi-year program included in the City's adopted FY 2007-11 Capital Budget. The project provides for the replacement of damaged curbs, gutters and sidewalks; installation of curb ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"); and removal and replanting of parkway trees. For Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009, the primary focus of the Program will be to install ADA-compliant curb ramps at locations where they currently are non-existent. These are locations where there is a 6-inch or 8-inch high concrete curb along the corner radius of an intersection. The goal is to remove the existing concrete curb and sidewalk along the corner radius and then install a new ADA-compliant curb ramp. This will create a continuous path of travel for both pedestrians and physically-challenged individuals that use either battery-operated carts or wheelchairs.
In FY 2007, Public Works completed the installation of approximately 430 new ramps in the area between 190th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard.
In FY 2008, Public Works completed the installation of approximately 167 new ramps in the area north of 190th Street up to the northern City boundary.
For FY 2009, Public Works will be installing curb ramps on all City streets south of Sepulveda Boulevard to the southern City boundary. The work will extend across the east-west City limits, and there are approximately 850 missing ramps to be installed.
Project Schedule: Design of the FY 2009 Program will be completed by May 2010. Construction is anticipated to occur in summer 2010.
Agency Contact: For questions about this project, please contact Henry Completo at (310) 781-6900
These pictures show a pedestrian crosswalk in a residential area where an access ramp previously did not exist and after it was installed. A Detectable Warning Surface (DWS) was installed on the top surface of the ramp. The DWS is a tactile panel with raised dimples that alerts visually impaired individuals they have approached an area where their path of travel crosses the path vehicle traffic.
