Accessible Parking Maintenance Plan

FM-PLCY-AP-001- Accessible Parking Maintenance Plan

Effective Date: April 1, 2026

Applies To: All accessible parking areas and associated access aisles located on St. Francis Xavier University property that are available for public use.

Prepared by C. Chisholm | Owner: A. Chopra | Revision: 01

Mission Statement

Facilities Management is committed to maintaining a campus environment that supports safe, equitable, and accessible access for all users.

Through proactive maintenance, structured inspection programs, and coordinated operational response, Facilities Management supports the maintenance of accessible parking infrastructure to ensure it remains functional, reliable, and aligned with legislative requirements.

Purpose

The purpose of this plan is to define the responsibilities, standards, and procedures that guide the maintenance of accessible parking areas across campus.

This plan supports compliance with the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act – Built Environment Accessibility Standard by ensuring that accessible parking areas and associated access aisles are maintained in a condition that supports safe and unobstructed usability.

This Accessible Parking Maintenance Plan is developed in accordance with the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act and the Built Environment Accessibility Standard. The plan is publicly available on the StFX University Policies and Procedures page and can be provided in alternate formats upon request.

This plan applies to all designated accessible parking areas and associated access aisles maintained by Facilities Management.

Identification of Accessible Parking Areas

Facilities Management maintains an inventory of accessible parking areas and associated access aisles across campus. This inventory supports inspection, maintenance, and reporting activities and is maintained within Facilities Management systems.

Accessible Parking Accountability

Facilities Management is responsible for the maintenance and accessibility of designated parking spaces and associated infrastructure.

This includes:

• Maintaining accessible parking areas, associated access aisles and routes 
• Supporting safe access to building entrances 
• Coordinating maintenance activities with internal teams and external contractors 
• Ensuring compliance through documented inspection and maintenance practices 

Accessibility considerations are integrated into operational planning, inspection activities, and continuous improvement processes.

Plan Accountability

• Accountable Executive: Director of Facilities Management
• Operational Owner: Facilities Management
• Enforcement Partner: Safety & Security
• Contract Oversight: Facilities Management (contract performance monitoring)

This plan establishes the operational approach to maintaining accessible parking areas in accordance with the Built Environment Accessibility Standard.

The Director of Facilities Management is accountable for approving this plan and ensuring its implementation.  

Facilities Management is responsible for operational execution, including inspections, maintenance, and contractor oversight.

This plan supports institutional compliance with accessibility legislation and informs operational decision-making related to accessible parking maintenance.

Accessible Parking Maintenance Requirements

In accordance with the Built Environment Accessibility Standard, this plan addresses:

• Maintenance of accessibility features within parking areas
• Painting and maintenance of accessibility symbols
• Painting and maintenance of parking space lines
• Maintenance of parking surfaces, including pedestrian pathways
• Maintenance of accessibility signage 

Operational Capacity and Resource Context

Accessible parking maintenance is delivered through a combination of Facilities Management operational staff and contracted services responsible for parking lot and roadway maintenance.

Operational planning and response are conducted with consideration of:

• Available staffing resources 
• Site-wide operational demands  
• Weather conditions and seasonal constraints 

Service levels may be adjusted during peak operational periods; however, accessible parking areas remain priority service locations, consistent with requirements under the Built Environment Accessibility Standard.

Definition of Accessible Condition

For the purposes of this plan, “accessible condition” refers to parking spaces and associated areas that are:

• Clear of obstructions 
• Firm, stable, and slip-resistant 
• Safe and usable for individuals with varying mobility needs 
• Connected to accessible routes leading to building entrances 

During active winter weather events, conditions may temporarily fall below this standard due to environmental factors. Restoration of accessible conditions is prioritized as soon as operationally feasible, consistent with the Built Environment Accessibility Standard.

Key Stakeholders

• Facilities Management Leadership Team 
• FM Supervisors and Operations Personnel 
• Safety & Security Services 
• External Snow Removal Contractors 
• Occupational Health & Safety 

Maintenance Standards

Accessible parking maintenance includes the following components:

Surface Condition

• Parking surfaces are maintained to remain stable and free of hazards that impact accessibility 
• Deficiencies affecting accessibility are prioritized for corrective action

Maintenance Schedule and Responsibilities

Snow and Ice Control

Snow and ice control activities for accessible parking areas are delivered in alignment with the Facilities Management Snow & Winter Conditions Preparedness Policy (FM-PLCY-SW-001).

Accessible parking areas and associated access aisles are designated Tier 1 priority areas within winter operations and are maintained through the planning, response, and prioritization framework established in that policy.

• Accessible parking areas are cleared and treated as a priority within response activities
• Snow accumulation and placement are managed to prevent obstruction of:
  • Accessible parking spaces 
  • Access aisles 
  • Adjacent pedestrian routes 

Snow and ice control activities for accessible parking areas are delivered through both internal operations and contracted services. Contractors are required to prioritize accessible parking areas and associated access aisles in alignment with Tier 1 service levels. Contractor performance is monitored and verified through inspections and work order tracking.

During active winter conditions, users should anticipate that access may be limited to cleared parking areas and designated pedestrian routes. Individuals are encouraged to allow additional time and use maintained pathways wherever possible.

Accessibility concerns identified during winter conditions may be reported through established reporting channels, as outlined in the Issue Identification and Response section of this plan.

Obstruction Prevention

Accessible parking areas are maintained to remain free of:

• Equipment or materials 
• Waste containers 
• Temporary barriers 
• Improper snow storage 

Obstructions are addressed as soon as operationally feasible following identification.

Signage and Pavement Markings

• Signage is maintained to remain visible and compliant with provincial requirements
• Pavement markings must be maintained and refreshed as required 

Accessible Routes

Accessible parking areas are maintained to support safe and unobstructed access from parking spaces to building entrances via designated pedestrian routes.

Routes connecting parking spaces to building entrances are maintained to remain: 

• Clear and unobstructed 
• Maintained in coordination with winter operations 
• Functional, including curb cuts and transitions 

Inspection Program

Inspection Responsibility

• Safety & Security Services conduct routine inspections and identify issues
• Facilities Management performs scheduled inspections and corrective actions
• Post-storm inspections are supported through standardized Facilities Management checklists completed following winter events, including verification of accessible parking areas and associated access routes

Issue Identification and Response

Accessibility-related issues may be identified through:

• Routine inspections by Safety & Security Services
• Incident reporting systems
• Feedback or complaints

Members of the University community are encouraged to identify and report accessibility concerns as they arise. During peak operational periods or active weather events, response times may vary; however, all reported issues are tracked and addressed based on priority and operational capacity.

Identified issues are communicated to Facilities Management and logged in the TMA system for tracking and resolution.

Inspection Approach

Accessible parking areas are subject to:

• Routine observational inspections 
• Scheduled inspections are conducted through recurring preventative maintenance (PM) work orders in the TMA system
• Event-based inspections following: 
  • Winter weather events 
  • Reported concerns or complaints 
  • Operational disruptions 

Inspection Criteria

Inspections assess:

• Surface condition 
• Snow and ice accumulation 
• Obstructions 
• Signage visibility 
• Pavement markings 
• Accessibility of connecting routes 

Work Order and Maintenance Tracking

All inspection and maintenance activities are documented within the Facilities Management TMA system.

This includes:

• Work order creation and tracking 
• Identification of deficiencies 
• Corrective actions and completion status 
• Reporting and performance monitoring 

Recurring PM work orders support scheduled inspections and generate audit-ready documentation.

All accessibility-related parking deficiencies identified through inspections or incident reporting are documented and tracked through the Facilities Management TMA system.

Corrective Action Framework

Deficiencies are addressed based on priority:

High Priority

• Conditions that prevent or significantly impact accessibility 
• Response: Immediate or same-day action (subject to operational conditions) 

Medium Priority

• Conditions that reduce usability 
• Response: Addressed within operational timelines 

Low Priority

• Minor or cosmetic issues 
• Response: Addressed through planned maintenance 

Enforcement

Safety & Security Services are responsible for enforcing accessible parking regulations, including:

• Monitoring unauthorized use 
• Issuing tickets 
• Towing vehicles when required 

Compliance with this plan is demonstrated and maintained through documented inspection, maintenance, and corrective actions recorded within the Facilities Management TMA system records.

Standardized inspection processes, including post-storm checklists, support consistent evaluation of accessible conditions across campus.

This includes:

• Inspection documentation 
• Response tracking 
• Periodic internal review of inspection and work order records
• Feedback and complaint resolution

Accessibility Review and Continuous Improvement

Accessible parking conditions are reviewed:

• Following winter weather events 
• Through ongoing inspection activities 
• As part of annual operational reviews 

Findings are used to:

• Improve maintenance practices 
• Address recurring issues 
• Inform resource planning and operational adjustments 

Documentation and Training

Documentation

Facilities Management maintains records to demonstrate compliance with this plan, including:

• Inspection and maintenance records documented through the Facilities Management TMA system
• Maintenance and repair activities 
• Reported issues and corrective actions 
• Periods of temporary inaccessibility 

Records are retained in accordance with Facilities Management record retention practices.

Training

Staff and contractors responsible for maintenance, inspection, and snow and ice control activities are provided with guidance on maintaining accessible parking areas. Training includes:

• Identification of accessible parking features 
• Recognition of common accessibility barriers 
• Procedures for inspection, reporting, and corrective action

Review and Version Control

This plan will be reviewed:

• Annually, or 
• Following significant operational or legislative changes
• Previous versions of this plan are retained in accordance with Facilities Management record retention practices

Updates will be approved by the Director of Facilities Management and communicated to relevant stakeholders.

Where parking areas are redeveloped, including redistribution of parking spaces or significant resurfacing, Facilities Management will review applicable accessibility requirements under the Built Environment Accessibility Standard.