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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings and felicitations:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The City of Denver is working on a redesign of the 16th Street Mall. The redesign plan proposes to remove curbs mid-block along the 16th Street Mall. This is a bad idea for pedestrians—including pedestrians who are blind. Curbs are the universally-recognized boundary between sidewalks used by pedestrians and streets which are likely to have moving vehicles. The curbs found along the 16th Street Mall today are neither too high nor too low. They work just fine. It is difficult to imagine what planners and designers are thinking when they suggest that the curbs should be removed to enhance the downtown area.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Even if you don't live or work in the city of Denver, you are likely to visit this very popular tourist attraction. The city needs to hear from us as to the importance, for blind people, of having a distinct curb along the full length of each block along the mall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Emails opposing the removal of curbs along the 16th Street Mall need to be sent to the three people whose names and email addresses are listed here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'>Brian Pinkerton<br><a href="brian.pinkerton@denvergov.org">brian.pinkerton@denvergov.org</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'>Susan Wood<br><a href="susan.wood@rtd-denver.com">susan.wood@rtd-denver.com</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'>John Desmond<br><a href="JDesmond@downtowndenver.com">JDesmond@downtowndenver.com</a><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Emails should be short and to the point. Here are some talking points you might want to use. Feel free to add others as you think of them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'>Removing the curbs along the 16th Street Mall is a bad idea; the curbs that are there today have worked well for pedestrians and should be included in the redesign. They also offer a universally-recognized boundary between safe sidewalks and potentially unsafe streets where traffic is moving.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'>There is nothing wrong with narrowing the 16th Street Mall—that is, bringing the bus lanes closer together.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'>The City of Denver did not consult with the blind community while developing the new design. Had the community been asked, blind people would have told the city to keep the curbs as they are.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'>All pedestrians, including the blind, need a tactually-discernible boundary between safe sidewalks and hazardous streets with moving vehicles. Architects who are not blind are not in a very good position to judge what is and is not tactually-discernible. Only blind pedestrians who travel regularly can do that with any credibility.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'>The City of Denver should engage in active dialog with representatives of the blind community before design and/or construction begin so that planners can clearly understand why curbs are so important to us.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Background Information<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>According to the <a href="https://www.downtowndenver.com/initiative/16th-street-mall-partners-recommend-mall-design-expand-sidewalks-improve-pedestrian-safety/">Downtown Denver Partnership</a>:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>"The City and County of Denver and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) are recommending a design for reconstruction of the 16th Street Mall that would expand sidewalks for walking, café seating and other activities, and move transit lanes to the center or offset-center of each block. These updates are designed to enhance the Mall experience for visitors while improving pedestrian safety and mobility on the city’s most transit-rich street."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>According to Principal project manager Brian Pinkerton,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"…mid-block, we're proposing that there won't be curbs, to make that space more of an inviting pedestrian space and less like a relic of the street."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can read the Westword story at this link: <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/inside-plan-to-update-denvers-16th-street-mall-remove-median-11320154">https://www.westword.com/news/inside-plan-to-update-denvers-16th-street-mall-remove-median-11320154</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This requires quick action on your part. Please send your emails as soon as possible. If, for whatever reason, you need some help doing this, please feel free to contact me directly via email at <a href="chong.curtis@gmail.com">chong.curtis@gmail.com</a>. I will be happy to send out an email on your behalf. All I would need is your permission, your name, your address, and your email (if you have one).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Curtis Chong<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: chong.curtis@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 303-745-0473<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>