Port to Celebrate Completion of $1.6 Million ADA Accessibility Improvements Project

Friday, 02 December 2011
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6281

A $1.6 million project that made accessibility improvements to 176 locations within the Port of San Diego's five member cities is now complete and the Port is ready to celebrate the accomplishments.

On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at 10 a.m., Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Scott Peters, Chula Vista Port Commissioner Ann Moore and William Stothers of the Port's Accessibility Advisory Committee will lead a ribbon cutting ceremony at Chula Vista Bayfront Park to commemorate the project's completion.

"Enhancing access to public areas is one of the Port's strategic goals. While that is the law of the land, it is fitting for the Port to fulfill this goal for a more fundamental reason," said Scott Peters, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "The Port of San Diego operates on the people's property. And the people – all of us – should be able to access it and to enjoy it."

The project is the second phase of a three-phase program to address accessibility barriers throughout the Port's jurisdiction in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The third phase, estimated to cost $75,000, is currently in design.

In June 2007, the first phase was authorized by the Board of Port Commissioners and the project began a month later. That phase made accessibility improvements to three Port areas in San Diego – Shelter Island, the Harbor Police Administration Building near Harbor Island and the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal.

Improvements were made to crosswalks and parking areas at a cost of about $68,000. Phase I, completed in 2008, served as a pilot project to immediately resolve a small number of public complaints and to evaluate an approach for other locations in Chula Vista, National City, San Diego, Coronado and Imperial Beach.

In October 2010, the Board of Port Commissioners awarded a construction contract of just under $1.6 million to PAL General Engineering, Inc., a San Diego-based small business, to begin the Phase II project.

Phase II addressed approximately 280 accessibility barriers and made improvements that provide accessible paths, curb cuts, new concrete sidewalks, improved asphalt pavement, additional accessible parking spaces, ramps to restrooms and parking areas, picnic tables and directional signage.

Chula Vista Bayfront Park will be showcased during the ribbon cutting ceremony because of the variety of work performed in a Port park. Improvements range from accessible parking to picnic tables and will provide greater access opportunities to the park's bike paths, play equipment and public boat launch area.

Other locations improved under Phase II include Shelter Island, Harbor Island, America's Cup Harbor, Spanish Landing Park and Tuna Harbor Park near the Midway Museum, in San Diego, as well as Dunes Park in Imperial Beach, Pepper Park in National City and Grand Caribe Shoreline Park in Coronado.

The Port of San Diego was created by state legislature in 1962 and is responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach Coronado, Chula Vista, National City and San Diego.

The Port District oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.