City satisfies requirements for ADA compliance; File closed

Independence Safety and Code Enforcement Director David Cowan has received official notification from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledging the city’s successful compliance with the department’s mandate for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements.

The original “Project Civic Access” (PCA) settlement agreement dated April 29, 2011, required a major city-wide improvement effort to improve accessibility to sidewalks, municipal buildings and facilities. With the help of grant funding and City of Independence investment, a multi-year phased project was implemented with ongoing progress reporting to the DOJ. The ADA projects to date total more than $3 million, and have included more than 650 ramps and sidewalk repairs and remedial improvements to city owned buildings.