[tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction for Nova2010

  • From: "Darla J. Rogers" <djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 21:59:54 -0500

"The devil's worship," <giggling>

Darla & Precious Roxy

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sila Miller 
  To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 7:43 PM
  Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction 
for Nova2010


  Well, guess you know what they say about "idle hands", right? 
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Darla J. Rogers 
    To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 2:19 PM
    Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction 
for Nova2010


    Dear Sila,

    You are right about coming far with the ADA, but we still need to find ways 
to access highly formatted databases, handwriting, etc., so we'll never run out 
of projects.  <smile>

    Darla & Precious Roxy


      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Sila Miller 
      To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
      Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 1:55 PM
      Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk 
construction for Nova2010


      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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