Mary Scott NabersThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that ensures individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and public facilities. Its core purpose is to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. Public officials are acutely aware of ADA regulations as non-compliance often leads to costly lawsuits. Across the U.S., public entities are consistently launching large projects to ensure compliance with ADA regulations. In 2025, numerous opportunities like the ones highlighted below will be found throughout the country.
Two buildings at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are scheduled to be renovated to address critical deficiencies and ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The effort carries an $89 million price tag. The project will also include improving the structural reliability of both facilities. Renovations will include creating accessible restrooms on all floors, modernizing elevator systems and removing mobility barriers. Plans for the new elevators call for energy-efficient systems designed to reduce operational costs and improve reliability while all entrances will be redesigned with ramps and automatic doors. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be upgraded to ensure climate-controlled temperatures which will also reduce energy consumption. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and the project is expected to be completed December 2028.
A project at the Waterbury Branch Line (WBL) in Connecticut will involve six transit stations that currently fail to meet ADA regulations. The aging infrastructure at the stations creates challenges for disabled access, increases maintenance costs, and causes schedule delays as well as general passenger inconvenience. All 6 stations will be upgraded internally and externally, and the required work carries a projected cost of $106 million. Key components of this effort will include the installation of 350-foot platforms with covered areas, windscreens, low-level platforms, ramps, way-finding signage and sheltered waiting areas. Additional indoor features will include enhancements such as new ticket vending machines, indoor waiting areas, and upgraded elevators. Outdoor improvements include new bus bays and high-level platforms with upgraded lighting systems and tactile warning strips for improved safety. The project is currently in the final design phase, with construction set to begin in spring 2025.
A historic branch of The New York Public Library in Manhattan’s Lower East Side will receive a long-overdue renovation to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements. The effort has been tagged with a cost projection of $30.2 million. The building’s age has contributed to structural challenges, including load-bearing walls that require reinforcement to accommodate new elevators and internal expansion so much of the work will focus on stabilization. The projects will include widening narrow hallways, installing automatic doors, and upgrading electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. The building will be revamped to provide for a comprehensive fire evacuation plan tailored for passengers with disabilities and an ADA-compliant elevator. A construction start date has not yet been scheduled.
A $25 million project is planned for the city of Topeka, Kansas to bring 50 miles of sidewalks into compliance with ADA requirements. Problems to be corrected include uneven sidewalk surfaces, severe cross slopes, deteriorated concrete, and narrow sidewalks that restrict wheelchair access. Curb ramps will be installed at intersections. Cracks, surface defects, and obstructions such as utility poles and overgrown vegetation will be corrected for safety and accessibility. The project will also call for closing critical gaps in walkways and entrances to schools, parks and transit stops. Construction will likely be delayed until 2026 because the project is still in the design stage.
A $35.2 million project at the Royalton-Hartland Central School District in Middleport, New York is being planned to correct critical deficiencies in school facilities that no longer comply with ADA regulatory requirements. Key components of the work will include modernizing restrooms that lack appropriate stall dimensions, grab bars, and accessible sinks. Other planned work will remedy problems such as varying floor levels connected by flights of stairs and barriers for students with mobility impairments. All emergency exits will also be outfitted with ramps for wheelchairs. Construction is slated for 2026.
Large ADA public projects launched by local governments often create a ripple effect, generating additional smaller contracting opportunities with private sector businesses. Since ADA compliance is mandatory across all industries, these opportunities can be significant. To support small businesses in meeting these requirements, the federal government introduced the Disabled Access Credit program. This program provides businesses with fewer than 30 employees or annual revenues under $1 million with a credit of up to $5,000 per year. The credit helps offset costs for removing barriers, improving accessibility, and enhancing accommodations for individuals with disabilities. So, when looking at contracting opportunities associated with ADA compliance efforts, companies will want to be sure to look at not only the public sector, but also neighboring private sector businesses.
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