The City of Elkhart’s Board of Works authorized staff to advertise bid number 25-22 for city-building ADA barrier removal and bid number 25-21 for accessible pedestrian signal systems.

City Engineer Jeff Schafer said the ADA bid documents follow a DLZ study of municipal public spaces and will focus on smaller barrier removals in city hall, the annex, and the Probation Building, excluding major improvements. "The council's actually, again, in next year's budget approved $800,000 for ADA barrier removal," Schafer told the board, noting that this additional funding allows projects focused on building interiors rather than only right-of-way work.

Public Works' Mark Lucas described the accessible pedestrian signal project as upgrades at six intersections that will install audible and vibrotactile guidance to help people with low vision, blindness, or hearing impairments by indicating crossing location and remaining crossing time.

Both items were authorized for advertisement after brief Q&A; the board did not award construction contracts at the meeting and directed staff to return with bids and recommendations at a future date.