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

Fri Aug 6 17:07:41 UTC 2021

Below is my reply to Amy’s response and her final message from CTA
about the issue.

Kelly

From: Kelly Pierce Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 1:07 PM
To: "Serpe, Amy" <aserpe at transitchicago.com>

Amy,

Thank you for your response and internal inquiry.  In your response,
it was stated that a GPS or similar satellite navigation system was
needed to provide a train’s location so the train can automatically
announce route names to blind passengers at CTA rail stations on
tracks where trains are going different directions. No train has this
technology, including the 7000 series trains now in development. The
response failed to explain the CTA’s position of why satellite
navigation technology can be the only technology used to deliver
location information to the train. The presentation at the ADA
Advisory Committee on July 12. 2021 regarding the new 7000 series rail
cars currently in development explained that display screens in each
car show visually the current location of the train on a map and the
upcoming station.  To display this real time train location
information visually, the train would need to have some means to know
its location. Why is it not possible to use the technology used to
provide location information for the video display screens to the
audio announcement system so external audio announcements of route
names of trains going different directions can be delivered to blind
passengers? After all, the video display screens demonstrate the CTA
already has technology that provides location information to the
trains.

Further, the response suggests that CTA will only proceed in a system
wide manner for the access upgrade. It fails to recognize the agency
is still in the development stage of hundreds of new rail cars with a
small number being tested as a prototype. The design of new vehicles
and their systems historically has meant that manufacturers can more
easily modify and reengineer the vehicle before final manufacturing
starts than other rail cars currently in service.  It would seem that
installing ADA related access technology would be easier and less
costly during the initial design and manufacture process of rail cars
than waiting until years later after the cars are fully built and
disputes settled.

I will appreciate your further consideration of this matter.

Kelly

From: Serpe, Amy<aserpe at transitchicago.com>	Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 5:05 PM
To: Kelly Pierce <kkellyp at gmail.com>

Hello Kelly:

Thank you for your e-mail.

I will be informing the Disability Community of additional information
related to the issue as it becomes available.

Thank you.

On 8/5/21, Denise Avant via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> FYI.
>
>
>
>
>
> Denise Avant, ESQ
>
> 1st Vice President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
>
> For more information about NFBI,
>
> Go to www.nfbofillinois.org
>
>
>
> From: Laurie Dittman <Laurie.Dittman at cityofchicago.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 5, 2021 9:41 AM
> To: davant1958 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] Eliminating Blind Access Barrier on New CTA 7000
> Series Rail Cars
>
>
>
> Denise,
>
>
>
> Please see CTA response below. I have no other information regarding this
> matter.
>
>
>
> Laurie
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Serpe, Amy
> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2021 11:51 AM
> To: 'Kelly Pierce'
> Subject: RE: Train Route Announcements
>
>
>
> Hello Kelly:
>
>
>
> I apologize for the delay in this response but I needed to do some checking
> related to the issue you raised.
>
>
>
> As you are aware, our Rail Operators do initiate the station/stop for a
> train. When the automated system does not work, the Operator is to make a
> manual announcement using a PA system to be heard outside of the train. If
> this does not happen we appreciate if customers will alert us to specific
> information such as which train, date, time, stop, etc., and all
> complaints/concerns are investigated and handled according to CTA policies
> and procedures. Retraining of Operators may also happen as needed.
>
>
>
> At this time, our trains do not have a GPS system which is what is needed
> to
> have the station announcements be delivered automatically, such as happens
> on our buses. This is something that the CTA is looking into. There is no
> date for implementation at this time but the community will be kept
> informed
> as things develop.
>
>
>
> Thank you again for contacting the CTA.
>
>
>
> Kindness is the currency of humanity.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Laurie J. Dittman
>
> Senior Policy Analyst
>
> Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
>
> 121 N. LaSalle Street, #104
>
> Chicago, IL.  60602
>
> (312) 744-4495
>
> (312) 744-3314 (fax)
>
> (312) 744-4964 (tty)
>
>  <http://www.cityofchicago.org/Disabilities>
> www.cityofchicago.org/Disabilities
>
>  <http://www.facebook.com/CHIDisabilities> www.facebook.com/CHIDisabilities
>
>  <http://www.twitter.com/CHIDisabilities> @CHIDisabilities
>
>  <https://cloud.citynews.chicago.gov/MOPD_signup> Subscribe to MOPD
>
>
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: davant1958 at gmail.com <davant1958 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 2, 2021 6:44 AM
> To: Laurie Dittman <Laurie.Dittman at cityofchicago.org>
> Subject: FW: [IL-Talk] Eliminating Blind Access Barrier on New CTA 7000
> Series Rail Cars
>
>
>
>
> [Warning: External email]
>
>
> Dear Laurie:
> Please see below. Many Chicago citizens and those in the suburbs, who are
> blind or low vision use CTA EL and buses. I wanted to bring this matter to
> the attention of MOPD. Will these concerns be addressed? If so, what will
> be
> the solution?
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> Denise Avant, ESQ
> 1st Vice President
> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
> For more information about NFBI,
> Go to
> https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=ff8c5a6f-a01762bf-ff8c8e07-86b9155280a
> c-cd30cc2657ae9b60
> <https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=ff8c5a6f-a01762bf-ff8c8e07-86b9155280
> ac-cd30cc2657ae9b60&q=1&e=5774889d-04da-4871-8130-57641e298a4e&u=http%3A%2F%
> 2Fwww.nfbofillinois.org%2F>
> &q=1&e=5774889d-04da-4871-8130-57641e298a4e&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfbofillinois
> .org%2F
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce via
> IL-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, August 1, 2021 5:29 PM
> To: il-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Kelly Pierce <kellytalk at gmail.com>
> Subject: [IL-Talk] Eliminating Blind Access Barrier on New CTA 7000 Series
> Rail Cars
>
> 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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