[Ct-nfb] Connecticut Transportation Survey

Sun Jan 31 17:28:18 UTC 2016

Justin,

Thank you for this.  I took the survey, voicing my opinion as a resident,
taxpayer, and consumer of both public transportation (especially rail) as
well as roads by way of an occasional driver, taxis, and Uber (my personal
opinion of which should be self-evident).  I've always found NFB chapter and
affiliate advocacy on the matter of public transportation interesting and, I
might say, a bit of a fine line-so I want to approach recommending that our
colleagues take this survey with care.  First, though, I realize that you
may very well have just meant that our colleagues should take this survey as
a way of participating in the civic process in much the same way we as
Federationists put tremendous effort into making voting accessible and
encouraging ourselves to vote, be it as a Democrat, Republican, independent,
Libertarian, Green (when I served as a chapter president in California for
several years my dear colleague and first vice president was a passionate
member of this last party.).

The fine line that the NFB walks on advocating on public transportation can
indeed be tricky.  Of course we must demand it be accessible, that is, that
fare vending machines provide nonvisual access such as through audio output,
that bus drivers announce their route (at least at stops where more than one
route may stop), that transit websites be usable by screen readers, etc.
But to advocate for a light raile here, a bus route there, better
maintenance of rail bridges (my wife and I have been the victims of problems
with the infamous old Walk Bridge along Metro North in Norwalk), etc. begs
the question "Is this really a blindness issue?".  I have read, for example,
in my local newspaper (thank you Newsline, BESB, and the Blackford
Foundation!) that a constitutional amendment to create a transportation lock
box using specified tax dollars may be a matter of some debate; indeed, the
question in the survey is worded in such a way as to potentially gain a
particular response and seems to expose the author's political opinion-and
of course if I get to vote on it in November I certainly will demand that
the Vote by Phone machine be ready and working early so I can vote however I
ultimately decide and know that the NFB is fully behind that demand.  I am
reminded of a National Convention resolution many years ago advocating for
more Amtrak funding that failed because the convention-I think
correctly-thought it crossed this fine line (but be assured we demand
Amtrak's ap, website, and vending machines be accessible no matter how often
or where the trains go).  Now, what would we do if bus service to, say,
BESB's office was to be impacted.  I realize that all of this may be
theoretical at this point, though, but it's always something I've viewed
with great care as a Federationist though I am personally (and to some
degree professionally) passionate about: from advocating on everything from
bus routes to commuter and Amtrak train funding to whether Uber should be
allowed to operate in New York City.

Very best,

Nathanael

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin
Salisbury via Ct-nfb
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 2:06 AM
To: 'ct-nfb at nfbnet.org'
Cc: Justin Salisbury
Subject: [Ct-nfb] Connecticut Transportation Survey

Fellow Federationists:

My local representative to the Connecticut General Assembly sent me this
survey about new transportation proposals. It's important for us to voice
our opinions!

Take the transportation survey by clicking here.
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=101745551&msgid=1151573&act=C227&
c=373633&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FRGJRWDQ> 

That survey includes a proposal for a new light rail system between Hartford
and UConn's Storrs campus. A light rail, for those who don't know, is
basically an above-ground subway. The survey also mentions buses and rail
service.

Enjoy!

Justin Salisbury

Legislative Coordinator

NFB of Connecticut

Justin Salisbury, NOMC, NCUEB

Graduate Student

Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness

Louisiana Tech University

Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=325734822

Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

"None can be free as long as any are enslaved" 

Dr. Kenneth Jernigan

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