[il-talk] Bells for Blind on Chicago Transit

Mon Nov 5 02:23:58 UTC 2012

Steve,

I would like to go on a ride with you of these 5000 series cars and
explore this issue further.  When I rode these cars last, the issue of
quiet door closings had not arisen, so I have never evaluated this
concern with a real life experience.  It would be great if Jamel could
join us, as patti said he is active in transportation issues in the
chapter.

Kelly

On 11/2/12, David Meyer <datemeyer at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> The sound of the bells signifying the opening of the doors on the train and
> the sound of the old door closing train announcements,  represented sort of
> a compromise position at least in my mind.  Admittedly, I have something of
> a hearing loss so perhaps what I am about to say is not entirely accurate.
> That said, if the high pitched bells are sounded at the same volume level
> when the doors open as they do now when the doors are closing, it is pretty
> much a moot point, particularly at stops where there is a lot of expressway
> traffic, (IE) Jefferson Park, or Irving Park on the Blue line.  I challenge
> anyone who might say that those nice subtle chimes can be heard above
> expressway traffic.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steven
> Hastalis
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 3:33 PM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Bells for Blind on Chicago Transit
>
> When Greg Polman first raised this concern, I suggested possible confusion
> arising from the use of the same high door chime to signal that doors
> either
> will open or close.  CTA officials then suggested that train operators
> could
> use the previous chimes and "Doors closing," announcement to signal that
> doors will close.  This is the same sound and announcement we have heard on
> elevated or "L" cars ever since CTA instituted the recorded announcements
> in
> the late 1990s.  Train operators must activate this announcement manually
> by
> pushing a button.  If they do so consistently, then the playing of the
> older
> lower-pitched chimes and "Doors closing," announcement should resolve any
> confusion.
>
> At this point, the CTA Board has approved this change.  It therefore most
> likely will take place, as the CTA news release has delineated.  We will
> experience more new cars next year, as Bombardier continues making them,
> and
> cTA continues putting them in service.  Let's share our experiences,
> thoughts, concerns and recommendations.  The 5,000 series cars have raised
> print and Braille four-digit car numbers in the same places where the older
> cars have them -- at the doors on your left as you enter or on your right
> as
> you exit, otherwise at the intercom near the wheelchair positions.
>
> At this writing, I am attending the NFB of Virginia state convention in
> Richmond.  I plan to return to Chicago in time to attend the Chicago
> Chapter
> meeting of Saturday, November 10.  Would anybody like to join me to ride
> these cars and explore these issues directly the following week, beginning
> Monday, November 12?
>
> Cordially,
>
> Steve Hastalis
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Linda Hendle" <iwannacu2 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 11:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Bells for Blind on Chicago Transit
>
>
> There's nothing wrong with having a bell sound, so you know when the trains
> doors are opening!  That would be helpful, especially if there's a lot of
> noise going on around you!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 11:43 AM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [il-talk] Bells for Blind on Chicago Transit
>
> We don't need more bell sounds just better mobility training for blind.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kelly Pierce
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 10:46 PM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List
> Subject: [il-talk] Bells for Blind on Chicago Transit
>
> Below is a news release from the Chicago Transit Authority.  It
> describes a new bell for the blind to signal when doors are opening on
> the newfangled CTA rail cars.  I have spoken with Steve hastalis about
> this recently.  Steve is a member of the NFB and serves on the CTA ADA
> advisory committee.  Steve said it stemmed from a single concern from
> ADA advisory committee member Greg Polman of the Chicago Lighthouse.
> Greg uses a guide dog and does not travel with a white cane.  The
> committee has two other members with vision impairments. Neither
> committee chair Amy Serpe, who represents the Chicago Public Schools,
> nor Doreen bogus, who represents the City of Chicago, use a travel
> aide of any kind, including a white cane.  Although Steve raised
> objections, he said these other members with visual impairments who do
> not use white canes encouraged other committee members to quickly
> approve the proposal without research or investigation.  Steve said
> that CTA representatives have not met with NFB members to solicit
> feedback about this service enhancement or take a ride on the system.
> Steve does not believe that any outreach has occurred to the ACB
> Chicago chapter either.  I am outraged and offended that such a
> substantial change is taking place without significant involvement
> from the blind community.  It is not required by the Americans with
> Disabilities Act. Audible door closing signals are required by the
> ADA. Debbie Stein and Steve have been extensively involved in
> transportation issues.  Karyn Campbell along with her husband Ray of
> the ACB have been active in transportation access issues for many
> years.  Both the ACB and NFB have been active in Chicago for decades.
>
> I would like to discuss this with other NFB members at an upcoming
> Chicago chapter meeting.  I have ridden on these rail cars with their
> quiet ride and gentle braking and acceleration. I never felt that door
> opening was undetectable to a blind person, particularly when a white
> cane was used to touch the doors.  Additional sound could be
> distracting and disruptive rather than helpful.  Further, Steve said
> the blind bell for door opening will have the same sound as the chimes
> for door closing.  There will be no spoken announcement that doors are
> opening, as occurs on the Metro system in Washington, DC.  The blind
> bell seems intrusive and unneeded at worst and confusing and
> ill-designed at best.  I feel powerless and believe government is
> turning away from the real supports for independent blind people.  I
> look forward to working with other NFB folks on this.
>
> Kelly
>
>
>
> CTA Adds Additional Door Chime Feature to Newest Rail Cars to Assist
> Passengers
>
>
> 10/11/2012
>
>
> The Chicago Transit Board today approved an important upgrade to its
> newest 5000 series rail cars that will benefit visually impaired
> customers. Chimes will be added to let passengers know when doors are
> opening, in addition to the chimes that now play when doors are
> closing. The CTA decided to provide the additional audio cues to
> assist passengers after receiving feedback from customers who
> indicated they had trouble locating train car doors from the platform.
>
> "This issue was brought to our attention because the new and improved
> rail cars were so quiet, some visually impaired customers had
> difficulty hearing the doors opening," said CTA President Forrest
> Claypool. "The valuable feedback led us to seek the door chime
> modification to ensure the new ADA features we're providing on the
> 5000 series work in the best possible way for our customers."
>
> The modification requires a software change that will be made to the
> entire purchase order of 706 rail cars. All new cars currently in
> Chicago will undergo a retro-fit, which will not impact operations.
>
> The change order for the door chimes are at no additional cost to the CTA.
> Bombardier Transportation, a recognized leader in the manufacturing of
> mass transit vehicles, provides the 5000 series cars. To date, 126
> cars have been delivered and are currently deployed on the Green and
> Pink Lines
>
> The total cost of the rail cars $1.137 billion, which is funded by two
> CTA bond issuances backed by sales tax receipts. The remainder is paid
> for by $150 million in federal funds.
>
> # # #
>
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