[IL-Talk] Eliminating Blind Access Barrier on New CTA 7000 Series Rail Cars

[Kelly Pierce]

I sent the following to  Amy J. Serpe, the  Manager, ADA Compliance
Programs for the Chicago Transit Authority on July 23. There has been
no response.  With the new 7000 series rail cars, CTA could through
external speakers automatically identify different trains traveling on
the same track when the doors open and eliminate an existing
accessibility barrier.

Kelly


Dear Amy,

I listened to the July 12 CTA ADA Advisory Committee meeting on the
YouTube video streaming platform.  Thank you for reading my public
comment in its entirety on pedestrian safety and electric buses.
During the meeting, the new 7000 series rail cars were discussed. The
CTA representative said 10 prototype cars are currently in service.
The new cars feature a revised audio announcement system. From what I
understand, stop announcements will occur automatically with train
operators rarely if ever needing to manually initiate announcements or
make announcements themselves. Currently, again from what I
understand, train operators on all other trains need to take action to
initiate the playing of various audio messages.

Unfortunately, the need for the manual initiation of audio messages
leads to widespread non-compliance with 49 CFR § 37.167(c) of the ADA
transportation regulations which state: "Where vehicles or other
conveyances for more than one route serve the same stop, the entity
shall provide a means by which an individual with a visual impairment
or other disability can identify the proper vehicle to enter or be
identified to the vehicle operator as a person seeking a ride on a
particular route."

The CTA has multiple train routes operating on the same track during
regularly scheduled service. These include stations on the Loop
elevated, the Green and Orange Roosevelt station, and select north
side stations serving the Red, Brown, and Purple rail lines. Train
operators rarely play any announcements on external or even internal
speakers identifying the train route when a person with a long, white
cane is standing on the rail platform. The new automated announcement
system can eliminate this accessibility barrier if the system is
programmed to use external speakers to announce the train route at
stations serving multiple routes. While the representative said the
prototype cars play a unique door opening sound, this audio
information is not sufficient at many rail stations for a blind person
to decide independently to board the train because trains on the same
track are going different directions. I urge CTA modify the new stop
announcement system on the 7000 series rail cars so blind passengers
can identify the routes of different trains when they are traveling on
the same track.

Kelly Pierce
Chicago, IL