City flouts the ADA at Symphony Hall

Posted by John B. Kelly


In 2006, Symphony Hall moved its box office down to ground level, thereby creating ground-level access.When the sidewalk dug up during construction was put back down, however, I was able to file a complaint because the repaired sidewalk did not comply with access regulations.

The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board ordered that the entire sidewalk be made accessible by July 1, 2008. But the city, which has been waiting on some federal money first announced in 2005 (one of those notorious ear marks, this one engineered by Joe Moakley on behalf of Symphony Hall) has continually asked for an extension, either to 2010 or 2009.

Each time, aware that this sidewalk is one of the crucial passageways for people with disabilities in the city of Boston, the AAB has denied the city request.

Now the July 1 deadline has passed, and the sidewalk remains untouched, pristine in its dangerousness. We did some leafleting at this spot two years ago, and found that the slant or "cross slope" of the sidewalk in front of the stairs (every disabled person in Boston knows this slanted sidewalk all too well) was 9.2%. The above photograph shows what people feel compelled to do in order to avoid the sidewalk. This wheelchair user is taking up the right lane of a very narrow Massachusetts Avenue directly in front of Symphony Hall. He is risking his life in order to get a smoother ride.

Meanwhile, because of city of Boston negligence, contempt, or incompetence, people with disabilities are being discriminated against. The endangerment of people of disabilities on the sidewalk, despite repeated orders to make it safe, was one of the main reasons I thought NAG should not participate in the ADA anniversary event with the city.