Consultants with the WT Group found the barriers exist in 188 sites spanning the city. Aaron Mudd with CivicLEX says the sheer size of the list has the city planning for decades of work.
"That's a big backlog, and the report makes it clear the city isn't going to be able to address all of it at once," he says. "In fact, the report says 'LFUCG cannot implement all recommendations at once. No local government can.' Instead, it recommends prioritizing certain sites and taking a phased approach. The assessment is that completing the work could take about 20 years and cost tens of millions of dollars."
The report also notes that to comply with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act, local governments don't necessarily need to make every site accessible, but must ensure that people with disabilities can access every program.
As for the major problem areas, many are concentrated in the city's older buildings, including the Government Center, Parks and Recreation Administration Building, and the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center. The city is currently planning on constructing a new city government facility with greater access for the public in mind.
The consultant further recommends that Lexington strengthen ADA accessibility requirements for contractors, develop ADA training for staff, and advertise accessible amenities, among other suggestions.