[Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on building a roundabout at Key and Light Streets

Morman, Ed EMorman at nfb.org
Wed Oct 13 20:05:49 UTC 2010


Hear, hear! Bravo, Maurice!  

As a sighted person who frequently walks to work at the national center,
I can say that the existing situation at that corner is NOT pedestrian
friendly.  And as a person who sometimes drives to work, I can add that
neither is it a wonderful place to drive, especially going south and
continuing on Light Street.  I suspect that opposition to the project by
Federal Hill merchants has more to do with the disruptions during
construction than to the final result.  Their opposition is
understandable, but shouldn't determine what happens.

There is another recent roundabout in the city, in the Harbor East
neighborhood, and it seems to work well and to be visually attractive.
Admittedly traffic is much lighter there and it was created as the
neighborhood was being built, but it does serve as an good example.

Cordially,
Ed Morman
Edward T. Morman, MSLS, PhD
Director, Jacobus tenBroek Library
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND JERNIGAN INSTITUTE
200 East Wells Street
   at Jernigan Place
Baltimore MD 21230
410.659.9314 x2225
410.685.2340 (fax)
 
 
Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB Imagination Fund
via your phone bill.

-----Original Message-----
From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Maurice Peret
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:15 PM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on building
a roundabout at Key and Light Streets

Greetings Fellow Federationists & Friends,

I am pleased at the invitation to attend an informative discussion
about the proposed city roundabout. Professionally, I would only
caution that we participate as informed citizens rather than
immediately jumping to the murky conclusion that roundabouts are by
definition unsafe or unnavigable by blind or other pedestrians. While
I have my own personal curiosity about the efficiency of these
architectural traffic designs, I have successfully learned to manage
them and teach them to my students. That there need necessarily be a
bridge or other pedestrian path constructed over or around this
proposed design might be premature until the proposal has been fairly
and thoroughly heard and understood. Other than the inevitable
headaches associated with the traffic and pedestrian interruption
caused by construction of the proposed roundabout, it may not
necessarily prove impossible for us to deal with. I would first want
to hear how the thing will be designed as being "pedestrian friendly"
before forming my own opinion. We don't want to assume the posture of
too many of our professional friends out there who jump to the knee
jerk conclusion that a thing is impossible or unsafe for blind
travelers without giving it a scout's try.

Just food for thought,

Maurice Peret, NOMCT

On 10/13/10, Rovig, Lorraine <LRovig at nfb.org> wrote:
> By the way, you can go to the 6 PM meeting even if you just show
up--You
> do not need to use the computer-invitation. The meeting is at Christ
> Lutheran Church across Light Street from the Science Center, or enter
at
> 701 South Charles Street.
>
> PARKING
> Parking is available for in an underground garage (enter on Lee
Street)
> and in the parking lot on Charles Street.  I do not know if parking in
> the church garage or lot will be free; check signs.  Some parking is
> available on Key Hwy and on Light Street.  Check the city signs but I
> think street parking is free on Light and Key after 6 PM.
>
> Hope to see you there!
>
> Lorraine Rovig
> Help?: Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB
Imagination
> Fund via your phone bill.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielsen,
> Chris
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:55 AM
> To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
> Subject: [Greater-baltimore] {Disarmed} FW: city holding "workshop"
> onbuilding a roundabout at Key and Light Streets
>
> Dear Fellow Federationists:
>
> Some of you may wish to attend this event. I plan to do so myself.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Rovig, Lorraine
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:32 AM
> To: Cheadle, John; Danielsen, Chris; Hartle, Mary Jo; Amy Phelps;
Booth,
> Steve; Aloma Bouma; Hartle, Jesse; Kuhnke, Kristian; Pare, John
> Subject: city holding "workshop" on building a roundabout at Key and
> Light Streets
>
>
>
> Dear Pedestrians and Friends,
>
> I suggest you forward this to anyone you know who would be affected by
a
> roundabout established at the intersection of Key and Light Streets.
The
> workshop is Hosted by Mark R. Brown of Baltimore City to explain this
> dumb idea, and "guests" include folks like Anna Epsilantis  who runs
Big
> Jim's Deli in Cross Street Market. She and other merchants are against
> the plan because it is not pedestrian-friendly.  Me too, same reason,
> and because they are not very driver-friendly either.  There is no
idea
> of a pedestrian bridge over the roundabout and I think in this economy
> none would be built until after a few pedestrians are killed. She is
> going to protest it along with other merchants.  (I ran into Anna
while
> having dinner last night and she informed me of this workshop which is
> designed as a way to get the neighborhoods and the city to buy the
> idea.)  Anyone can attend the workshop by marking the online
> "invitation" linked to the announcement below.
>
>
>
> Lorraine Rovig
>
> Office: 410-659-9314, x2415
>
> Help?: Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB
Imagination
> Fund via your phone bill.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: annabigjims at aol.com [mailto:annabigjims at aol.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:08 AM
> To: Rovig, Lorraine
> Subject: Fwd: Sonny Morstein has invited you to Key and Light Street
> Roundabout Workshop
>
>
>
> Good Morning
>
>
>
> This is the planned roundabout we spoke of.
>
>
>
> Anna
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sonny Morstein <mail at mail.socializr.com>
> To: annabigjims at aol.com
> Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 9:33 am
> Subject: Sonny Morstein has invited you to Key and Light Street
> Roundabout Workshop
>
> To ensure you receive invitations, add mail at mail.socializr.com to your
> address book.
>
>  To view the images in this email, please click on Show or Display
> Images.<http://static.socializr.com/images/logo_small.gif>
>
>
>
> Invite More People
> <http://www.socializr.com/invite/260538188/1505721562>
>
> Sonny Morstein has invited you to:
>
> Key and Light Street Roundabout Workshop
> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>
> Thursday, October 14, 2010, 6:00 PM
>
> Hosted by Mark R. Brown
>
> Christ Church
>
> 701 S. Charles street, Baltimore, MD
>
> I am inviting you to a special workshop to discuss the Key & Light
> Street roundabout project. This is a Baltimore City Department of
> Transportation effort that will make this important intersection safer
> for pedestrians and vehicle traffic and create an attractive gateway
> linking the Inner Harbor with South Baltimore.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> View Guest List and RSVP
> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>
>  <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>
> View Guest List and RSVP
> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>
> Sent on behalf of Sonny Morstein <jmorstein at aol.com> at 10/13/10 6:33
AM
>
>
> Block emails from Sonny Morstein or Socializr
>
<http://www.socializr.com/block?recipientemail=3032920&blockemail=405972
> 4&verifycode=140214&eventId=260538188&code=1505721562>
>
> (c)2009 Socializr, Inc. All Rights Reserved.   "Don't be boring."
> 660 4th Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, California 94107
>
>  <http://www.socializr.com/invitation/260538188/3032920/socializr.gif>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Greater-baltimore mailing list
> Greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Greater-baltimore:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org/lrovi
> g%40nfb.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Greater-baltimore mailing list
> Greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Greater-baltimore:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org/mauri
ceperet%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Maurice Peret, NOMCT
National Orientation & Mobility Certifier Trainer
****************************************
CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND
****************************************

_______________________________________________
Greater-baltimore mailing list
Greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Greater-baltimore:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/greater-baltimore_nfbnet.org/emorm
an%40nfb.org




More information about the Greater-Baltimore mailing list