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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First of all. I wish all of you a very happy new year and hopes that 2021 will prove much better than 2020, and we can get back to some semblance of normalcy at some point in the new year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those of you who have attended our chapter meetings might remember that the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the agency that operates Metro and ACCESS) has opened a new transit center in Northside, and all buses that formerly used Knowlton’s Corner as a transfer point are now using the new location, including all the 17 routes serving the Clovernook Center and other locations in North College Hill and College Hill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the issues we are dealing with is a lack of information from SORTA regarding how a blind person can navigate this facility and other transit hubs that are now being used to facilitate bus transfers outside Downtown. Unfortunately, until now, SORTA has deferred all responsibilities to train and advise Blind riders on travel on bus routes to the Cincinnati Association for the blind and Visually Impaired, including providing crucial information regarding navigating these new facilities and updates to fare collection and other procedures that have occurred. CABVI requires consumers to pay for orientation and mobility services on a sliding scale or receive funding for orientation and mobility training under an individualized plan for employment (IPE) from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, while riders with other developmental and physical disabilities can receive free travel training directly from the Disability Services Coordinator at SORTA.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following is a summary of information I have collected on navigating the Northside Transit Center from a blindness perspective. This information is from a telephone conversation I had with Sue Guagenti, Orientation and Mobility Specialist at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, based on two separate visits to the center that Sue reportedly made with a colleague in November and December 2020. Unfortunately, I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this information as I have not traveled independently in this facility yet, so please use this information at your own risk, and understand that I am offering this summary for informational purposes only in the spirit of the philosophy of the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Northside Transit Center is located on the (technically) east side of Spring Grove Avenue between Hamilton Avenue and Blue Rock Street, a half block walk from Hamilton. This is the side of Spring Grove closest to the Ludlow Viaduct. It is sometimes referred to as the South Side of Spring Grove but is considered the east side according to the address system (i.e., north-south addresses, buildings across the street have odd numbered addresses with one building with an even address near the end of this block closest to Blue Rock on the same side of Spring Grove as the Transit Center.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The center functions essentially as an alley connecting Hamilton Avenue on the west and Blue Rock Street on the east. The entrance to the transit center is located on the right side walking north on spring Grove, which is toward Blue Rock and away from Hamilton Ave. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The transit center itself more or less consists of eight shelters marked A through H in a configuration similar to Government square. Traveling more or less west to east, shelters A, B, C, and D are positioned in alphabetical order from Hamilton toward Blue Rock on the south side of the transit center (i.e., Shelter A is located nearest to Hamilton, while Shelter D is located nearest to Blue Rock). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shelters E. F. G. and H are located in corresponding positions on the north side of the transit center. (i.e., Shelter E is located across from Shelter A, Shelter B is located across from Shelter F, etc.). Some sources also reference a Shelter I on Spring Grove. This is apparently located on Spring Grove immediately next to Shelter H, which is at the north side of the Transit Center nearest to Blue Rock. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Inbound buses, which are buses traveling toward Downtown, or, in the case of the 51 Crosstown which uses shelter A, traveling west toward Glenway Avenue / Western Hills, enter the Transit Center from Hamilton Avenue. Buses traveling outbound (i.e., buses traveling away from Downtown, or, in the case of the 51 Crosstown which departs from Shelter H, traveling toward Uptown and Hyde Park), enter the Transit Center from the side nearest to Blue Rock.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is audible information located at each shelter, indicating time and direction of the next bus to arrive at that shelter. This is apparently updated in real time based on GPS information from the buses, not the published schedules. Each shelter is recessed and indicated by a bench, evidently in a manner similar to Government Square Downtown. There is a poll facing the bench at each shelter with a button located on the right side of it. Pressing the button yields recorded information on the next scheduled arrival in real time. The recorded information also provides information on which routes go through the shelter, but at this time, it does not indicate shelter name. (A. B. C., etc.). There is apparently no Braille signage indicating any of the shelters at this time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is a long drain located near the west end of the Transit Center nearest to Hamilton Avenue that crosses the center of the transit facilities. It was recommended that Blind travelers and travelers who operate nonvisually who need to cross from one side of the Transit Center to the other use this drain as a shoreline.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the north end of the Transit Center nearest to Blue Rock, there is an island going toward Blue Rock that can also be used to cross the center from north to south. However, it was recommended that cane travelers use the drain as a landmark as opposed to the island.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are also tactile warning strips connecting both sides of the center. A sidewalk runs behind the shelters to the east, and there is a park and ride north of Hamilton off Spring Grove. There is a recycling / salvage facility called Building Value at this location, and its address is 4040 Spring Grove Avenue. This address can be used for summoning ACCESS or rideshare or as a reference point while using the Transit Center. It is located near the intersection of Blue Rock and Spring Grove at the (more or less) north end of the Transit Center.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Transit Center is not a straight line. It is configured in a manor more or less similar to Government Square, with the length of each shelter area comprising the length of a city bus. There is a kiosk on the north side of the transit center between shelters F and G. At this time, only the 30 day or stored value passes can be purchased at this location. The following is a list of the routes that use the transit center and their corresponding shelter locations. This information is current as of December 17 2020. The latest information is also available accessibly from the Moovit App on IOS and Google Transit. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter A: Routes 15X, 51<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter B: Route 27 Inbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter C: 19 Inbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter D: 17 Inbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter E: 17 Outbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter F: 16 and 19 Outbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter G: Routes 23 and 27 Outbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter H: 51 and 15X Outbound<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'>Shelter H / I: 23, 20 and 16 Inbound. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>According to my conversation with Sue Guagenti, a representative from public relations at SORTA is working to provide some sort of guide to this facility for Blind riders, though what form it will take is still unclear. I have voiced my opinion that this information should be made available as a podcast on the SORTA and CABVI web site. Sue indicated that her department is also working with SORTA to enable any Blind person who needs information / familiarization with the updated transfer facilities to reach out to CABVI, and they will work with the person in terms of funding. She is working with SORTA to see if it could provide funding for a blind person who needs orientation services as a result of changes and updates to its facilities, but this is still in the works.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I greatly appreciate anyone who has read this message, especially if they have made it this far. Please let me know if you have any questions about this information going out on the list.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here’s to a Happy, safe, and normal 2021. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Very Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Christopher Sabine<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cincinnati Chapter<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>