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

[davant1958 at gmail.com]

Hello:
I have just forwarded Kelly's email to MOPD to ask if the concerns would be address since many blind and low vision people in the suburbs and in Chicago use the transit system.


Denise Avant, ESQ
1st Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
For more information about NFBI,
Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kyle Chellino via IL-Talk
Sent: Sunday, August 1, 2021 5:56 PM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kyle Chellino <chellinoramtruck at gmail.com>; Kelly Pierce <kellytalk at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] Eliminating Blind Access Barrier on New CTA 7000 Series Rail Cars

You know, I really hope they really read this carefully. This is very very very important information! If only you could've got them to respond!

On 8/1/21, Kelly Pierce via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
>
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