News release

Ceremony January 24 marks improved access on Capitol Campus

Newly built pathway eliminates barriers to people with disabilities

OLYMPIA – Several hundred people, many of them individuals with disabilities, are expected to take part in a ribbon-cutting event January 24 to celebrate the new accessible pathway between the Legislative Building and other nearby buildings at the state capitol.

Senators Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, and Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, and Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver, are the featured speakers.

The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. in front of the Pritchard Building and includes a candlelight procession to the Legislative Building.

The recently completed project provides an accessible pedestrian walkway between the South Portico of the Legislative Building and the Sundial Plaza between the Cherberg and O'Brien buildings.

The pathway removes barriers to wheelchair access between these buildings by providing a new sloping paved walkway that will include flanking planters and bollard lighting fixtures to enhance visibility and pedestrian safety. General Administration managed the project in coordination with the Barrier-Free Facilities Program, which is also part of the department. The program works to ensure that public buildings are accessible to all residents.

General Administration maintains the Capitol Campus as part of its overall responsibilities.

More about the Barrier-Free Facilities Program: http://www.ga.wa.gov/ADA/ada.htm

General Administration on the web: http://www.ga.wa.gov/index.html