[IABS-Talk] Slight Math Correction - Rail System Audio Announcements - FINAL

[Marilyn Green]

FYI



-- 
Marilyn Green, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
312-343-8396
www.nfbofillinois.org




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Serpe, Amy" <aserpe at transitchicago.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 21:57:36 +0000
Subject: Slight Math Correction - Rail System Audio Announcements - FINAL
To:


SLIGHT MATH CORRECTION: There are approximately 748 rail cars within
the 2600/3200 Series (not 758) and 714 cars within the 5000 Series.
The total is correct at 1,462 cars.


PLEASE NOTE, THE ATTACHED AND BELOW MESSAGE ARE THE SAME.

Hello Everyone:

In an effort to answer some customers’ questions, I would like to
clarify how the CTA’s audio messaging systems are activated on rail
cars enabling customers to hear route and destination announcements
when a train pulls into a rail station.


CTA’s active rail car fleet currently consists of approximately 1,462
rail cars classified under 3 different series or types of cars. There
are approximately 758 cars within the 2600 and 3200 Series and 714
cars within the 5000 Series Rail Cars. Some of the oldest 2600 Series
cars are 40 years old.

Additionally, the CTA is now piloting a 4th type of rail car known as
the 7000 Series Rail Car. At this time, there are only 10 of these
7000 Series Rail Cars actively being tested in a pilot program that
will continue throughout 2021 and into 2022.

All CTA rail cars are equipped with an announcement system that
provides upcoming stops (internal), as well as station and destination
messaging when a train stops at a particular station (internal and
external announcement). The pre-recorded announcement system is
manually triggered by the Rail Operator on the 2600 and 3200 Series
cars. This should occur so that when the train is in a station,
customers can hear the color, route and destination of a train.

The newer 5000 and 7000 Series Rail Car announcement systems have a
GPS based messaging system. This system includes an automatic default
setting so that when the train’s origin and destination is identified
and programmed into the system, it will automatically announce the
station stops, as well as the route and destination information at a
given station without the Rail Operator’s intervention. The Rail
Operator can deactivate the default setting and use a manual setting
when necessary, which means that the Operator manually initiates the
appropriate stop and station announcements.

Customers should report when audio train announcements such as stops,
train color, route and destination information is not being announced.
Complaints can be sent to
feedback at transitchicago.com<mailto:feedback at transitchicago.com> or
provided by calling 1-888-YOUR CTA (1-888-968-7282). Be sure to
include specific date, time and location where the announcements did
not occur. All complaints are investigated and appropriate action is
taken by the CTA to ensure that established policies and procedures
are followed. The re-training of employees may also occur as needed.

The CTA continues to provide safe and reliable service enabling people
of all abilities to meet their transit needs.

Thank you.

Kindness is the currency of humanity.

Amy J. Serpe
Manager, ADA Compliance Programs
Chicago Transit Authority
567 W. Lake Street, #10-31-08
Chicago, IL 60661
312-681-2608 (Work)
312-350-2301 (Cell & Text)

This email and the attachments hereto contain confidential preliminary
drafts, notes, recommendations, memoranda and other records in which
opinions are expressed, or policies or actions are formulated and is
intended for internal use only.  The contents of this email and its
attachments should not be disseminated without prior approval from the
Chicago Transit Authority.