[passcoalition] Re: Request for an Update
- From: Karen Gourgey <karen.gourgey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'Newman, Margaret'" <MNewman@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:20:14 +0000
Dear Margaret:
Thank you for your response to our request. I have shared it with our Steering
Committee and we do have some questions.
When we met back in December of 2010, you indicated that we expected to be
looking at 100 aps installations per year. Can you put the choice to announce
only 30 in context for us? What are the plans for the other approximately 70
locations on the list? We are very much interested in how these initial 30
were chosen, especially, since they are all high priority in terms of consumer
need. We hope that the choices reflect the broadened criteria that were
also mentioned at our December 16 meeting and that there will be more to follow.
We’re very glad to hear that plans are proceeding for the workshop for your
signaling people; we hope that in addition to that, you will involve PASS in
design discussions, particularly in situations where there are no absolute
“best practices,” but where additional information for the blind traveler is
crucial, the pedestrian plaza is a case in point.
Finally, let me mention two language issues. This is not meant to be
“nitpicky” or overly politically correct, but it does actually have
implications for our work. First, APS stands for “Accessible” rather than
audible Pedestrian Signal; it’s an important distinction, since the
vibro-tactile arrow is to provide information to pedestrians who are deaf-blind.
Second, we are people who are blind and visually impaired. It’s important to
mention both, especially when addressing people who are new to our
accommodations and travel needs. If, for example, when you are talking with
companies bidding on the new way-finding system, if you say only “sight
impaired,” they are liable to come back with a proposal that essentially says
“we’ll just make it bigger.” Obviously, that won’t help those of us who are
blind. We are very comfortable with the use of the word blind, for the sake of
clarity if nothing else.
Regarding the 7th avenue and 23rd street issue, I’m in touch with Commissioner
Forgione, as we have some concerns and suggestions regarding the difficulties
on the southeast corner. I must apologize to you as I already did to her,
because I missed her request for input when it was initially sent, so I’m
hopeful that we can still discuss this, especially if we can do it in the next
couple of days.
Thanks for listening, and we very much look forward to continuing to work
together.
Sincerely,
Karen Gourgey, PASS Chair
Karen Luxton Gourgey Ed.D., Director
Computer Center for Visually Impaired People
Baruch College, City University of New York
One Bernard Baruch Way, Box H-0648
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (646) 312-1426
Fax: (646) 312-1421
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/ccvip/
-----Original Message-----
From: Newman, Margaret [mailto:MNewman@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 5:49 PM
To: Karen Gourgey
Cc: Sapolin, Matthew
Subject: RE: Request for an Update
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your note. Although we have not communicated in a while, we have
been making progress here. The project at 23rd and 7th with Audible Pedestrian
signals is nearly complete and we hope to make an announcement in the next
couple of weeks. Speaker Quinn is very supportive of the project and may also
participate in the announcement. We will of course include representatives
from PASS.
We are coordinating with Commissioner Sapolin's office to schedule a workshop
to review criteria for navigating around the city for sight impaired
pedestrians. We hope to schedule this in the fall for our signals group to
assist them in evaluating locations for new APS locations as well as street
geometric redesign.
As for our evaluations of APS locations, our signals division has been
proceeding with analysis of proposed locations and has ranked approximately 30
locations. We are awaiting the new signals and hope to begin work on some of
the locations later this year. We should be able to announce those at the same
time that we open the signals on 23rd st.
As for our new wayfinding initiative, we are in the process of selecting a
consultant and provisions for sight impaired and physically impaired
pedestrians will certainly be part of the task order. We are continuing work
on the navigational description that Commissioner Forgione shared with your
group earlier at the 23rd St. site visit.
We look forward to our continuing collaboration to make the streets easier to
navigate and share with you in the goal to make NYC a stellar example of access.
Regards,
Margaret
____________________________________________________________
Margaret Newman AIA, LEED AP | Chief of Staff | NYC Dept Of Transportation
55 Water St. New York, NY 10041 | 212 839 6408 | mnewman@xxxxxxxxxxx
Connect with NYCDOT:
-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Gourgey [mailto:karen.gourgey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 4:25 PM
To: Newman, Margaret; Sapolin, Matthew
Subject: Request for an Update
Dear Margaret:
I'm writing on behalf of the PASS Coalition to inquire about progress with the
list of requested intersections for accessible pedestrian signals. We note
that the installation of countdowns, plazas, and bike lanes is proceeding
apace. We read with interest the Times article describing the City's plans to
pilot new signage containing street maps, and we trust that DOT is considering
ways that pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired will be able to
benefit from this additional information. but we have not seen any movement in
terms of APS installations. The City is becoming more difficult to navigate
for us almost on a daily basis, and we can't afford to lose the momentum we
thought we had begun to achieve earlier this year.
As I think you know, we stand ready to assist and support DOT in any way we
can, but we do need to know where things stand with regard to DOT's plans for
aps installations and for ensuring safe and independent access to all of the
city's streets and avenues for people with vision loss.
We look forward to hearing from you and to continuing to work together, so that
new York city really can become an unparalleled example of access for all.
Sincerely,
Karen Gourgey, PASS Chair
Karen Luxton Gourgey Ed.D., Director
Computer Center for Visually Impaired People
Baruch College, City University of New York
One Bernard Baruch Way, Box H-0648
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (646) 312-1426
Fax: (646) 312-1421
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/ccvip/
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