Q. Who or what determines the number of disabled-person spaces in a parking lot?
– Morris Victor, Alhambra
A. It, in fact, is a what, Morris:
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
“It is based on ADA standards,” said Kassandra Cornejo, an assistant planner for Alhambra. “The ratio depends on the number (of spaces).”
For the first 100 spaces in a lot, one needs to be set aside for each 25. You round up, so if there are 27 spaces, two disabled-person spaces are required.
For bigger lots, different ratios apply.
Local governments – such as cities and counties – can increase the number of parking stalls set aside, but often don’t. Parking lots that serve the public must abide by the federal law – think businesses, city halls and parks and churches.
Now, if Honk owned a John Dutton-sized ranch that the public did not have access to, he would not be required to set aside any such space – but if he thought people with a disability would be better served, he would.
Q. Hi Honk: Do you have any information on why the work on the transition from the southbound 55 Freeway to the southbound 73 has stopped? They managed to get enough of the work done to cause a major jam during commute times, then abandoned the work, leaving a mess. No one has so much as lifted a shovel for months and months. Our tax dollars at work? I don’t even take the 73. But sometimes on the 55, the only safe lane is the No. 1. In the other lanes, drivers are jockeying for position to get onto the 73 – or swinging away from the congestion.
– Frustrated Morning Commuter (Rick O’Reilly, Newport Beach)
A. Dear Frustrated …
Honk answered this one several months ago, and not a lot has changed. But because he has been asked about this more times than Mrs. Honk has assigned him a honey-do, he circled back to Caltrans for the latest.
In October 2021, a project began there to upgrade that ramp. One lane was closed to protect workers and motorists, with the other one left open to traffic with plans to occasionally close it at night when needed.
The project was to be finished later this year.
Not going to happen.
“On Feb. 2, 2023, Caltrans terminated the contract since the contractor couldn’t fulfill its contractual obligations,” Nathan Abler, a Caltrans spokesman for Orange County, told Honk in an email. “Approximately 45% of the work has already been finished. We anticipate that the work already accomplished will only need to be slightly modified by the new contractor.”
So Caltrans began the process of hiring a new contractor, which, to ensure taxpayers usually get a fair price and solid work, can take some time.
“This process is almost complete and Caltrans expects the new contractor to resume work on the project within a month,” Abler said. “Once the project ramps back up, Caltrans expects the remainder of the work to take about one calendar year, weather permitting.”
Once a $7.5 million project, that price tag could increase but a bonding company, which acts as a layer of insurance, is to cover any bump up.
HONKIN’ UPDATE: About 80 plastic poles, called channelizers, were recently installed on the northbound 241 Toll Road at the 91 Freeway, said Michele Miller, a spokeswoman for the agency that manages the 241. They are to block cheaters from taking free-flowing lanes that transition to the westbound 91 and at the last moment cutting over a dirt median so they avoid the afternoon congestion on the lanes to the eastbound 91.
For years, tollway officials have battled the dangerous lane-switching problem, with Honk readers weighing in along the way. Double-white lines were added, and so were signs, and finally 800-plus channelizers to keep people in their proper lanes. Not enough. Blocking the median is the latest attempt at a total solution.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. X (FormerlyTwitter): @OCRegisterHonk
