Americans with Disabilities Act and the Design of Highway-Related Facilities, 1993.King. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law July 26, 1990, provides comprehensive civil rights protection to people with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodation, state and local government services, transportation, and telecommunications. It differs from previous civil rights legislation in that it requires changes in the way some facilities are designed and constructed. With few exceptions, it requires all new pedestrian facilities be designed and constructed to accommodate people with disabilities, and in some cases it requires modification of existing facilities. Most of the requirements of the ADA affect employment opportunity, the design of buildings, and the provision of transit facilities and vehicles. However, the ADA and its implementing regulations contain certain provisions that might significantly affect highway-related facilities. This article focuses on how the ADA affects the design of highway-related facilities now and what is likely to happen in the future.