City of Baltimore Announces Settlement Agreement in ADA Lawsuit, Including Unprecedented Investment in Pedestrian Infrastructure

Agreement Will Be Reviewed for Approval at 11/20 Board of Estimates Meeting

BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, November 14, 2024) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a settlement agreement with a class of plaintiffs that will result in an historic investment into the City's pedestrian rights of way. The agreement is part of a partial consent decree, whereby the City will invest in improvements in the City's sidewalks and curb ramps. The agreement also outlines the creation of a program within the City's Department of Transportation dedicated solely to accessibility to manage this latest infrastructure investment.

Under the terms of the agreement, the City will invest $44 million into its sidewalks and curb ramps over the next four years. This will include $8 million for FY 25 and $12 million for each of FY26, 27, and 28. Additionally, the City will appoint an ADA coordinator that will focus solely on maintaining the pedestrian rights of way; implement a pedestrian inspection program that will monitor accessibility on a 10-year basis; institute a maintenance program to clear clutter and vegetation on an annual basis; and will communicate with the public on the importance of accessibility on its rights of way. The parties will then renegotiate the terms in four years when the agreement concludes to decide future investment.

"As is the case in many historic East Coast cities, the challenge posed by our City's sidewalks and curbs long predates the Americans with Disabilities Act and adequately changing our infrastructure poses a monumental task," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "However, under my Administration, we are committed to taking every action necessary to set the City on track to come into compliance with the ADA, and ensure Baltimore is more accessible to our disabled community than ever before. As with every deeply-entrenched problem, achieving this goal will not happen overnight, and it will ultimately cost far more than $44 million included in this settlement. But today, we join with all of our neighbors to announce the largest move in this City's history to make our sidewalks accessible to everyone."

The settlement still must be approved by the City's Board of Estimates, who will consider the agreement on November 20, 2024.

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