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Ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title I, Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, by adding a new Chapter, “Chapter 174: Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory.”
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WHEREAS, in 2014 the City of Pittsburgh added Chapter 162: Open Data Sets into City code to commit to the spirit of open government, with published datasets reviewed regularly for additions; and,
WHEREAS, open data increases transparency and access to government information, and enhances coordination and efficiencies among departments and partner organizations across all sectors, and is used internally for benchmarking and goal-tracking; and,
WHERAS, recent extreme weather events - namely the snowfall of late January 2026, which required the declaration of a State of Emergency - have revealed the critical need for the City of Pittsburgh to be able to quickly and effectively clear not just roadways for vehicles, but also curb-cuts, intersections, and transit stop infrastructure, so that pedestrians and residents with disabilities are able to move freely about the City; and,
WHERAS, the City of Pittsburgh must also be able to identify and cite property owners who fail to clear the sidewalks abutting their property lines in order that they too shall meet their responsibility to keep our rights-of-way safe and accessible; and,
WHEREAS, clear data on the most critical needs of pedestrians, residents with disabilities, and transit riders following such weather events is required in order for the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and other City Departments and Public Sector Partners - including the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and others - to effectively establish processes to address these needs and prioritize their work; and,
WHEREAS, it is critical that these datasets and priorities be established in partnership with Disability and Accessibility Advocates, Transit Rider Advocates, Community Groups, Chambers of Commerce, and other interested stakeholders;
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title I, Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, is hereby supplemented as follows:
Chapter 174: Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory
§ 174.01 PURPOSE
A. The purpose of this legislation is to establish accurate data on usage of curb-cuts, intersections, and transit stop infrastructure as well as the location of parking spots for residents with disabilities, and business districts, schools, daycares, community centers, houses of worship, and other locales that require free and clear access to curbs and sidewalks, so that:
i. The Department of Public Works can establish processes for clearing those locations of debris during winter weather and other events based on highest priority and need; and,
ii. The Department of Public Works can ensure that the clearing of roadways does not make inaccessible those prioritized locations; and,
iii. The Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections can prioritize enforcement of parking and sidewalk clearing regulations for vehicle and property owners in locations of highest need.
§ 174.02 RIGHT OF WAY ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS INVENTORY
A. The Data required for the Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory shall be collected by the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning, in consultation with the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, Department of Public Works, the 311 Call Center, as well as any other departments and municipal government and non-government partners which the Department of City Planning deems necessary.
B. The data used to assemble the Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory shall be subject to audits performed by the City Controller, or by direction of the Mayor or Pittsburgh City Council.
§ 174.03 DEADLINES
A. The Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory shall be completed, and recommendations based on the inventory shall be sent to Pittsburgh City Council and made available for public review, no later than November 15, 2026 and shall be updated quarterly thereafter.
B. The Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory shall be used by all City of Pittsburgh Departments to help ensure the City is prioritizing safety and accessibility for all right-of-way users, with particular focus on vulnerable users, including children, seniors, and residents with disabilities.
Section 2. Any Ordinance, Resolution or City Regulation, or portion thereof found to be inconsistent with or in conflict with this Ordinance is hereby repealed only to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency.