Milton Town Council adopted a transition plan for accessibility.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires public agencies with 50 employees or more to have transition plans in place. Rehoboth Beach collected public input on its transition plan earlier this year.
Milton took part in the same process.
The plans include strategies to make transportation and infrastructure more accessible. Milton’s transition plan has been in the works since 2022.
Town manager Kristy Rogers led the town’s efforts in putting the plan together.
“One, it's federal legislation back to the 90s, so you have to have these plans,” Rogers said. “You have to be making these efforts. But the basis of it is just equal opportunity and access for everyone… Making these spaces accessible gives everyone the opportunity to participate throughout town.”
Milton’s plan includes a self-assessment report to guide how the town should spend $25 thousand it sets aside for ADA compliance improvements.
Rogers said the town’s report includes findings that several ramps in town are not in compliance with the ADA and need to be improved. There are also gaps in sidewalks that need to be addressed.
“I think that we do very well considering all modes of travel when looking at our sidewalks and our street networks and our trails and park connections,” Rogers said. “And we certainly have items that need to be addressed. But I do think that our strength is that we consider all aspects whenever we plan and consider our projects and our budgeting.”
Rogers said she doesn’t expect the town will be able to address all of the identified problem areas this year.
“As cost of goods have increased so much, … we're not going to get as many completed, but we will still make all efforts as possible,” Rogers said.
In the last couple years, Milton staff has improved some ramps in town to be ADA compliant.
