Scottsdale approves updated ADA Transition Plan to guide future accessibility upgrades
Scottsdale City Council recently approved the city’s updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan, advancing a long-term strategy to improve accessibility across city facilities, parks, sidewalks, transit areas and digital services.
The updated ADA Transition Plan serves as Scottsdale’s roadmap for meeting federal accessibility requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The comprehensive plan identifies barriers to accessibility, prioritizes improvements and establishes a 20-year implementation strategy designed to ensure residents and visitors with disabilities can fully access city programs, services and public spaces.
“Accessibility is not a one-time project, it is an ongoing part of smart city planning,” said Scottsdale City Manager Greg Caton. “This transition plan gives Scottsdale a clear, data-driven roadmap to guide future infrastructure improvements and ensure public spaces and services remain accessible for everyone.”
The plan builds on years of accessibility improvements already completed citywide. Between 2020 and 2025, Scottsdale installed more than 3,800 ADA-compliant curb ramps, including 365 new ramps added in 2025 alone. The updated plan outlines additional priorities including sidewalk reconstruction, accessible pedestrian signal upgrades, improvements to parks and public facilities, enhanced wayfinding signage, accessible seating areas and ongoing digital accessibility enhancements.
The transition plan was developed through a multi-phase self-evaluation process that included public meetings, online feedback opportunities, employee and community questionnaires, outreach to disability advocacy organizations and participation at the Abilities Expo hosted at WestWorld in 2025.
The city’s self-evaluation identified opportunities for accessibility improvements in facilities, parks and public rights-of-way. Areas evaluated included accessible parking, sidewalks, service counters, restrooms, transit stops, pathways, playgrounds and pedestrian crossings.
The plan also supports Scottsdale’s ongoing efforts to improve digital accessibility and align city websites, online services and mobile applications with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.
The city’s ADA/Title VI Compliance Coordinator will continue working with departments across the organization to monitor progress, prioritize projects and ensure accessibility remains integrated into Scottsdale’s Capital Improvement Plan and future city projects.