Municipality must ensure accessible sidewalks for persons with disabilitiesMunicipio debe garantizar aceras accesibles para personas con discapacidad

**I.-Purpose of the appeal.** The appellant complains that the sidewalks in the downtown area of the district of Pocora are in poor condition and lack access ramps, a situation that prevents him from moving along them in his wheelchair.

**II.-On the rights of persons with disabilities.** On repeated occasions this Chamber has noted that with Law 7600, Law of Equality for Persons with Disabilities, the legislature sought to eliminate a series of barriers that prevent persons suffering some degree of disability from participating fully in Costa Rican society, and thus to guarantee the provisions of Article 33 of the Political Constitution and the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. In this regard, this Court stated in its judgment number 2005-05895, issued at fourteen hours and forty-seven minutes on May eighteenth, two thousand five, the following portion of which is relevant:

«[…] In this respect, it is pertinent to indicate —as this Constitutional Court has recognized on repeated occasions— that Law No. 7600 has as its fundamental objective to achieve the necessary conditions for persons suffering any type of disability to attain their full socio-economic participation AND INVESTMENT. In this sense, the system of updating and promoting the necessary conditions established by the law constitutes a guarantee of their right to full equality, as well as an attempt at insertion into the socio-economic life of the country. Precisely because of this basis, the enjoyment of equal opportunities for access and participation in identical circumstances ceases to be a mere aspiration for the disabled and becomes a fundamental right. To guarantee the exercise of their rights and duties, the Law and its Regulations require the Public Administrations and private-law entities providing public services to provide the disabled with the support services and technical aids they require to make that purpose a reality […]».» As can be inferred from reading the precedent cited above, Law 7600 imposed on both the Public Administration and on private-law entities providing public services a series of obligations to be fulfilled in different areas, such as education, transportation, and physical space. Precisely regarding this last aspect, the cited law and its regulations established a series of requirements that sidewalks (aceras) located within the jurisdictions of the country's various municipalities must meet, and for whose fulfillment said corporations were obliged to ensure compliance. Thus, Article 41 of Law 7600, and Articles 125 and 126 of the regulation to said law, establish the following relevant parts:

ARTICLE 41.- Regulatory technical specifications. New constructions, expansions, or remodeling of buildings, parks, sidewalks (aceras), gardens, plazas, roads, sanitary services, and other publicly owned spaces must be carried out in accordance with the regulatory technical specifications of the public and private entities responsible for the matter. Private buildings that involve public attendance and provide service to the public must have the same characteristics established in the preceding paragraph.

The same mentioned obligations shall apply to housing projects of any nature, financed totally or partially with public funds. In this type of project, housing assigned to persons with disabilities or families in which one of the members is a person with a disability must be located in a place that guarantees easy access.

Article 125.- Characteristics of sidewalks (aceras). Sidewalks (aceras) must have a minimum width of 1.20 m, a non-slip finish, and must not have steps; in case of a change in level, it must be overcome with a ramp.

Transverse cuts or ramps made along the property line shall be no larger than 1.20 m, must meet the requirements for slope (gradiente), surface, and free passage of water. They may be made in these cases without the need for municipal approval (visto bueno municipal).

If the cuts are larger or the separation distance is shorter than indicated, the maximum distance along the building line shall be that which exists for the entry or parking area. These areas must meet the requirements indicated by the regulation in this respect, and municipal approval (visto bueno) of the locality for its execution must be obtained in this case.

Sidewalks (aceras) must have a height (slope, gradiente) of between 15 and 25 cms, measured from the curb. If the height of the property line is less than that indicated, it shall be overcome by a slope (gradiente) that must comply with the provisions set forth below.

The transverse slope (gradiente) shall have a maximum of 3%.

Article 126.- Ramps on sidewalks (aceras). On sidewalks (aceras), at all corners there must be a ramp with a maximum slope (gradiente) of 10% to overcome the existing change in level between the sidewalk (acera) and the street. This ramp must have a minimum width of 1.20 m and be constructed in a non-slip manner.

**III.-On the specific case.** In the present matter, it is considered proven from the report provided by the respondents that some of the sidewalks (aceras) in the downtown area of the District of Pocora lack access ramps, while others are in an irregular state, which prevents persons using wheelchairs from easily moving through said places. The foregoing constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental rights of the protected party, since, in application of the provisions of Law 7600 and Article 169 of the Political Constitution, the respondent Municipality is obligated to ensure that persons with disabilities living in the canton can move freely on streets and sidewalks (aceras) that meet the minimum requirements established by the corresponding legislation. Therefore, by virtue of the foregoing, it is appropriate to grant the appeal filed, as is hereby done.” **“I.-Object of the Appeal**. The appellant alleges that the sidewalks in the central district of Pocora are in poor condition and lack access ramps, a situation that prevents him from moving along them in his wheelchair.

**II.-On the rights of persons with disabilities.** On repeated occasions, this Chamber has indicated that with Law 7600 *Ley de Igualdad para las Personas con Discapacidad*, the legislature sought to eliminate a series of barriers that prevent persons suffering some degree of disability from participating fully in Costa Rican society, and thus guarantee the provisions of Article 33 of the Political Constitution and the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. In that regard, this Court stated in its judgment number 2005-05895 of fourteen hours and forty-seven minutes on May eighteenth, two thousand five, in what is relevant, the following:

*«*[…] *In this regard, it is appropriate to indicate –as this Constitutional Court has recognized on repeated occasions– that Law No. 7600 seeks as its fundamental objective to achieve the necessary conditions so that persons suffering from any type of disability attain their full participation AND socio-economic integration (INVERSIÓN socio-económica). In this sense, the system of updating and promoting the necessary conditions established by the law constitutes a guarantee of their right to full equality, as well as an attempt at insertion into the socio-economic life of the country. Precisely because of its foundation, the enjoyment of equal opportunities for access and participation under identical circumstances ceases to be a simple aspiration for persons with disabilities and becomes a fundamental right. To guarantee the exercise of their rights and duties, the Law and its Regulations impose on the Public Administrations and the private law subjects that provide public services, the obligation to provide persons with disabilities with the support services and technical aids they require to make that purpose a reality* […] *»*.

As can be deduced from reading the precedent cited above, Law 7600 imposed on both the Public Administration and the private law subjects that provide public services a series of obligations to be fulfilled in different areas, such as education, transportation, and physical space. Precisely regarding this last aspect, the cited law and its regulations established a series of requirements that sidewalks located in the jurisdictions of the different municipalities of the country had to meet, and whose fulfillment these corporations were obliged to oversee. Thus, Article 41 of Law 7600, and Articles 125 and 126 of the regulation to said norm, establish in what is relevant:

*ARTICLE 41.-* *Regulatory technical specifications New constructions, expansions, or remodelings of buildings, parks,**sidewalks**, gardens, plazas, roads, sanitary services, and other publicly owned spaces, must be carried out in accordance with the regulatory technical specifications of the public and private bodies in charge of the matter. Private buildings that involve public attendance and provide services to the public must have the same characteristics established in the preceding paragraph.* *The same mentioned obligations will govern for housing projects of any type, financed totally or partially with public funds. In this type of projects, the housing units assigned to persons with disabilities or families in which one of the members is a person with a disability must be located in a site that guarantees their easy access.* *Article 125.-**Characteristics of sidewalks.** Sidewalks must have a minimum width of 1.20 mts., a non-slip (antiderrapante) finish, and must not present steps; in the event of a slope (desnivel), it shall be overcome with a ramp.* *Transversal cuts or ramps made along the property line shall not be larger than 1.20 mts., and must meet the requirements for gradient, surface, and free flow of water. These may be made in such cases without needing a municipal approval (visto bueno).* *If the cuts are larger or the separation distance shorter as stated, their maximum distance on the building line shall be that of the existing entry or parking area. These areas must meet the requirements indicated by the regulation in this regard, and in this case, the municipal approval (visto bueno) of the locality must be obtained for its execution.* *Sidewalks must have a height (gradient) between 15 and 25 cms., measured from the curb of the gutter. If the height of the property line is less than indicated, it shall be resolved by means of a gradient that must comply with what is established below.* *The transverse gradient shall have a maximum of 3%.* *Article 126.-**Ramps on sidewalks.** On sidewalks, at all corners, there must be a ramp with a maximum gradient of 10% to overcome the existing slope (desnivel) between the sidewalk and the street. This ramp must have a minimum width of 1.20 mts. and be constructed with a non-slip (antiderrapante) finish.* ** III.-On the specific case.** In the present matter, it is considered proven, based on the report provided by the respondents, that part of the sidewalks in the central district of Pocora lack access ramps, while others are in an irregular condition, which prevents persons using wheelchairs from moving easily through said places. The foregoing constitutes a clear violation of the petitioner’s fundamental rights, since in application of the provisions of Law 7600 and Article 169 of the Political Constitution, the respondent Municipality is obligated to ensure that persons with disabilities living in the canton can move freely on streets and sidewalks that meet the minimum requirements established by the corresponding legislation. Thus, by virtue of the foregoing, the proper course is to grant the appeal filed, as is hereby done.”

“I.-Objeto del recurso. El recurrente acusa que las aceras del casco central del distrito de Pocora, se encuentran en mal estado y carecen de rampas de acceso, situación que le impide desplazarse por las mismas en su silla de ruedas.

II.-Sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad. En reiteradas ocasiones esta Sala ha señalado que con la Ley 7600 Ley de Igualdad para las Personas con Discapacidad, el legislador pretendió eliminar una serie de barreras que impiden a las personas que sufren algún grado de discapacidad participar en forma plena en la sociedad costarricense, y así garantizar lo dispuesto por el artículo 33 de la Constitución Política y por la Convención Americana para la Eliminación de todas las Formas de Discriminación contra las Personas con Discapacidad. En ese sentido, este Tribunal señaló en su sentencia número 2005-05895 de las catorce horas con cuarenta y siete minutos del dieciocho de mayo de dos mil cinco, en lo que interesa lo siguiente:

«[…] Al respecto resulta oportuno indicar -tal y como este Tribunal Constitucional lo ha reconocido en reiteradas oportunidades- que la Ley Nº 7600 pretende como objetivo fundamental lograr las condiciones necesarias para que las personas que padecen cualquier tipo de discapacidad, alcancen su plena participación E INVERSIÓN socio-económica. En este sentido, el sistema de actualización y promoción de las condiciones necesarias que la ley establece, supone una garantía de su derecho a la plena igualdad, además, de un intento de inserción en la vida socio-económica del país. Precisamente, por su fundamento es que el disfrute de iguales oportunidades de acceso y participación en idénticas circunstancias deja de ser para los discapacitados una simple aspiración y se convierte en un derecho fundamental. Para garantizar el ejercicio de sus derechos y deberes, la Ley y su Reglamento imponen a las Administraciones Públicas y a los sujetos de derecho privado que brindan servicios públicos proveer a los discapacitados los servicios de apoyo y las ayudas técnicas que requieren para hacer realidad ese propósito […]».

Tal y como se desprende de la lectura del precedente antes citado, la Ley 7600 impuso tanto a la Administración Pública como a los sujetos de derecho privado que brinden servicios públicos, una serie de obligaciones a cumplir en distintos ámbitos, tales como educación, transporte y espacio físico. Precisamente en cuanto a este último aspecto, la ley de cita y su reglamento establecieron una serie de requisitos que debían cumplir las aceras que se ubican en las jurisdicciones de las distintas municipalidades del país, y por cuyo cumplimiento se encontraban obligadas a velar dichas corporaciones. Así el artículo 41 de la Ley 7600, y los artículos 125 y 126 del reglamento a dicha norma, establecen en lo que interesa:

ARTICULO 41.- Especificaciones técnicas reglamentarias Las construcciones nuevas, ampliaciones o remodelaciones de edificios, parques, aceras, jardines, plazas, vías, servicios sanitarios y otros espacios de propiedad pública, deberán efectuarse conforme a las especificaciones técnicas reglamentarias de los organismos públicos y privados encargados de la materia. Las edificaciones privadas que impliquen concurrencia y brinden atención al público deberán contar con las mismas características establecidas en el párrafo anterior.

Las mismas obligaciones mencionadas regirán para los proyectos de vivienda de cualquier carácter, financiados total o parcialmente con fondos públicos. En este tipo de proyectos, las viviendas asignadas a personas con discapacidad o familias de personas en las que uno de sus miembros sea una persona con discapacidad deberán estar ubicadas en un sitio que garantice su fácil acceso.

Artículo 125.- Características de las aceras. Las aceras deberán tener un ancho mínimo de 1.20 mts., un acabado antiderrapante y sin presentar escalones; en caso de desnivel éste será salvado con rampa.

Los cortes transversales o rampas que se hagan a lo largo de la línea de propiedad, no será de un tamaño mayor a 1,20 mts., deberán cumplir con los requisitos de gradiente, superficie y libre paso de aguas. Podrán hacerse en estos casos sin necesidad de visto bueno municipal.

En caso de ser mayores los cortes o menor la distancia de separación según dicho, su distancia máxima sobre la línea de construcción será la que exista de área de entrada o de estacionamiento. Estas áreas deberán cumplir con los requisitos que indique el reglamento al respecto y deberá contarse en este caso con el visto bueno de la municipalidad del lugar para su ejecución.

Las aceras deberán tener una altura (gradiente) de entre 15 y 25 cms. medida desde el cordón del caño. En caso de que la altura de la línea de propiedad sea menor a la señalada, se salvará por gradiente que deberá cumplir con lo establecido a continuación.

La gradiente en sentido transversal, tendrá como máximo el 3%.

Artículo 126.- Rampas en las aceras. En las aceras, en todas las esquinas deberá haber una rampa con gradiente máxima de 10% para salvar el desnivel existente entre la acera y la calle. Esta rampa deberá tener un ancho mínimo de 1.20 mts. y construidas en forma antiderrapante.

III.-Sobre el caso concreto. En el presente asunto, se tiene por demostrado a partir del informe rendido por los recurridos que parte de las aceras casco central del Distrito de Pocora no cuentan con rampas de acceso, mientras que otras se encuentra en un estado irregular, lo que impide a las personas que utilizan sillas de ruedas desplazarse con facilidad por dichos lugares. Lo anterior constituye una clara violación a los derechos fundamentales del tutelado, pues en aplicación a lo dispuesto por la Ley 7600 y el artículo 169 de la Constitución Política, la Municipalidad recurrida se encuentra obligada a velar porque las personas con discapacidad que habitan en el cantón, puedan desplazarse libremente por calles y aceras que cumplan con los requerimientos mínimos establecidos por la legislación correspondiente. Así en virtud de lo expuesto anteriormente, lo procedente es acoger el recurso planteado, como en efecto se hace.”