[tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction for Nova2010
- From: "Sila Miller" <silam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 13:55:10 -0500
Good morning,
It is my understanding, that all new road and building construction has
guidelines regarding sidewalks and accessibility. The 3 new buildings out at
Capitol Circle Office Complex all have beautiful, wide sidewalks, domed
indicators and wheelchair curb cuts. Additionally, all the new roadway
construction along Capitol Circle has new sidewalks. This is so ironic for me.
In a conversation I recently had with someone I'm writing an article about, he
sited such issues as this that we should consider when we get bogged down and
think that the ADA has accomplished nothing. So, I guess I said all that to say
we have a long way to go but we sure have come a long way!
Take care, Sila
----- Original Message -----
From: Darla J. Rogers
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 4:49 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction
for Nova2010
Dear William,
I understand that; I was asking if this is so in Tallahassee? It seems to
be, as some buildings on Bradford Road, have been doing some major
improvements, and sidewalks are being added.
Meridian Road, is technically, from what we have been told, a state highway,
so that is one of the areas that won't be seeing sidewalks soon, and that isn't
the city's fault, but I am hoping some grants will be available to help the
city out, as it works to correct some long-standing access issues.
Darla
----- Original Message -----
From: blindwilly
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 4:26 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction
for Nova2010
Darla,
Every city has there own laws about sidewalks. It is my understanding that
any time a building is built or has substantial remodeling, they are required
to install sidewalks.
Having said that, I have wondered about the follow threw, but it is not up
to me.
William
----- Original Message -----
From: Darla J. Rogers
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 1:14 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Dear William
Are there laws in place about new construction (business and residential)
that sidewalks must be included.
Also, I'm concerned about Dial-a-Ride making assumptions about blind
people being able to navigate certain stops thus assuming we can access all of
them and making us ineligible for service.
Darla
----- Original Message -----
From: blindwilly
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 7:57 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Charles,
I am on your side buddy, but there is never going to be enough money.
We have a few million to work on high priority sidewalks now and perhaps when
we have finished them, we will get another grant to continue, but even then
there will be priorities.
It's like the pharmacy add says, this is not a perfect world. I wish
it were, and I am batting it out my friend so keep in there with the cause and
we will all get there in the end.
Willy
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Atkins
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 9:20 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Even with the remotest possibility of their, possibly, not finding a
sidewalk at a bus stop, stifles any notion they might have to just be creative
and venture out for the sake of just being a happier person and feeling more
independent as a blind person! Does anyone else feel almost like I do?
It would be fun to just get up and go, but, the fact of one realizing
the sidewalk project is millions of dollars short, impedes any such liberty for
the cane travelers.
Is there anything we cane travelers can do to help them come up with
the rest of the money that's needed to complete the project?
What a wonderful city it would be if we could just go a head on and
be guaranteed that no matter where we go we won't be bothered with such a
scenario as our not finding along the way, the sidewalk once we got to where
they're missing or hadn't been installed to allow us to just enjoy our trip!
Otherwise, it's just just a hendrance!
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 4:36 PM
Subject: [tabi] article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Sidewalk construction for Nova2010 continues but 'woefully' short
By TaMaryn Waters
Being blind is a way of life for Bruce Weaver, and so is riding the
bus.
Weaver, 48, who's been blind for 25 years as a result of a
hereditary disease, rides
a bus five to six times a day since he's the independent-living
coordinator for Ability
1st. His job is to teach those with disabilities how to use
StarMetro's buses as
well as he does.
With StarMetro's new Nova2010 bus system slated to launch this
summer, city crews
are tackling the tough job of correcting safety issues with
sidewalks and building
new ones in areas where no sidewalk exists so people like Weaver
can get better access
to bus stops.
"Without sidewalks, my level of independence would be significantly
hampered," said
Weaver, who also serves on the city's Transit Advisory Committee.
Even though he's pleased to see more sidewalks in the works, Weaver
is disappointed
all of the sidewalks needed for the massive decentralized bus
system will not be
done anytime soon. The city has $15 million carved out of its
budget for sidewalk
improvements related to Nova2010. But there's $37 million worth of
need, which is
roughly 25 miles of sidewalks, said Gabriel Menendez, the city's
public works director.
As a result, the city has to prioritize which sidewalks get done.
Forty one segments
in varied lengths, equal to $8 million of construction costs, are
on land where the
city has right-of-way. But 30 other segments needed for Nova2010
are not owned by
the city. Menendez said it would cost an estimated $29 million
obtain the needed
right-of-way.
"We are going to be woefully short on sidewalks," Menendez said.
"We are doing everything
we can to make the process work."
It is also why we can travelers can't make more abundant use of the
chirping signals they have been installing!
It is fool's play to go out and chance it though, i'm sure many of
us often, would like to give it a shot from time to time.
That shot couldor could not work in random instances!
When will this constant threat to our lives end man?
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