They concern SHA’s 2025 Americans With Disabilities Act Transition Plan.
Baltimore, Md (KM) Marylanders are invited to take part in one of two virtual meetings being held next week sponsored by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. Spokesman Charlie Gischlar says they will be held on Monday, November 17th, and Wednesday, November 19th. The times will be from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM on both days.
Gischlar says SHA wants to get feedback from citizens on the Draft 2025 Americans With Disabilities Act Transition Plan. “And the purpose of the Transition Plan is to ensure that we as an agency–SHA—develop reasonable and accessible travel routes along the roads that we maintain–which are the numbered, non-tolled roads–for all individuals because we’re serious about safety, but including those with disabilities. So we really want people to go to one of these meetings and take the survey,” he says.
The survey will ask respondents to share their experiences and make suggestions. The meetings can be found at roads.maryhland.gov, which is also where the survey can be accessed.
Gischlar says SHA already makes it a little easier for individuals with disabilities to access its roads, bridges and other facilities. “For people who are visually impaired, we have detectable warning systems at the ramps off of sidewalks,” he says. “There are little things, bumps. If they feel the bumps, and know they’re about to enter into another roadway. So that’s a big safety mechanism that’s in place,”
Gischlar says these meetings are open to everyone, both those with disabilities, and those without. “It’s for all highway users,” he says. “That includes people in vehicles; on bicycles; those on foot, pedestrians; and even scooters. A lot of people are using scooters. So it’s all highway users. We are serious about safety and that’s our number-one priority.”
Here are some details on these two virtual meetings:
Monday, November 17, 2025, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 🔗 Join via Microsoft Teams link HERE, or call in at 1-667-262-2962, ID: 172976547#
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 🔗 Join via Microsoft Teams link HERE or call in at 1-667-262-2962, ID: 798430406#
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination based on disabilities. It also requires state and local governments to develop plans to address areas of non-compliance.
By Kevin McManus