TD Banknorth in Easton
3 Roche Brothers Way
North Easton, MA 02356
Phone: (508)238-1628
http://www.tdbanknorth.com/
My friends and I went to the TD Bank North in Easton and were disappointed with the lack of wheelchair accessibility. There is plenty of handicap parking spaces located right in front of a sloped cement ramp that leads to the main entry doors. Railings are located on either side of this cement ramp for added safety.
There are two doorways you will need help with opening in order to access the lobby of the bank for neither door is automatic. Once inside the lobby there is a document service counter which is a counter that customers use to prepare bank slips before actually going to the line at the teller window. This counter is not wheelchair accessible because it is too high!
We then approached the teller window and I found it difficult to talk to the bank teller because this counter is also too high. The bank teller was very pleasant and treated me with respect. She told me that tellers will provide assistance to persons in wheelchairs.
I give TD Bank North THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars, they would need to install automatic entry doors; lower a section of the document service counter and lower a section of the the teller window to a wheelchair accessible height so a person in a wheelchair can independently complete their banking business.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
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November 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Kenny,
I am working on a few banks in Western Mass. that do not provide access to the “document service counter”. The teller window is also required to provide proper access per the AAB regs. Some banks will claim there is a security concern when providing an accessible teller window that is 36” in height.
The solution is to provide the 36” height x 36”width teller window with a segment of safety glass that allows documents to be passes to the teller below the safety glass. This is not always the solution banks choose, some do not install any safety glass which can be even better for customers.
Many bank branches if not all do renovations prior to opening, especially when the store front was used for something other than a bank during prior occupancy. If you go to the North Easton Building Dept. and look at the permit that was taken out for that address & the permit states interior renovations and/or renovations to the customer area, that is enough to file the general building complaint Building Complaint Form with the AAB. Also, always note the cost of renovations to any store front of building permit you look at.
Remember their wording for the renovations may not match or be the same as what I have recommended to look for on the permit. This info can be found in the section on the permit that states; Description of proposed work or something to that effect. Not all towns & cities have the same building permit applications.
Scott Ricker
Access Specialist
28 Lake Shore Dr
Southwick, MA. 01077
Tel-(413) 569-2269
Email-ptbagger@verizon.net
November 18th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hi Scott, I just called this bank and it is a new building that opened in September of 2006. We will file a complaint with town buidling inspector and Architectural Access Board. Thank You again for your expert advice! Kenny & co
November 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hi All,
We sent a letter to the Easton Building Inspector regarding our complaint that this TD Banknorth does not have a wheelchair accessible document service counter or accessible teller window. This morning Paul, a very nice building inspector called my mom to tell her that he visited this TD Banknorth this morning. He said he didn’t see an accessible teller window until the manager pointed it out to him. It was blocked by a large display. The bank manager moved the display so persons in wheelchairs will be able to access it. Paul also told my mom that he suggested the bank place a wheelchair accessible sign at this teller counter. Paul also informed the manager of the bank that they need to place an accessible service counter.
Thank you Easton Building Department and Paul for caring so much about accessibility!!
Kenny and co