[Mn-at-large] Light Rail Platforms Input
David Andrews
dandrews at visi.com
Tue May 17 20:38:45 UTC 2016
This came from Sam Fischer at SSB, who was contacted by Metro Transit.
Good Morning!
Metro Transit asked if we would send an email to
you in hopes you could help them with platform
improvements for the train. If you could please
answer the questions below and send your
responses directly to Kimberly Zlimen
(<mailto:Kimberly.zlimen at metrotrasit.org>Kimberly.zlimen at metrotrasit.org)
and CC Joseph Kapper
(<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.org>jkapper at srfconsulting.org).
To read the original email request, I've included
it at the very end of this email (after my signature block).
• What types of information do
you use to assist you in navigating the
platforms? (Examples: railings, tactile pavers at
crossings, sounds, platform announcements, etc.)
• What types of information do
you use to board/exit trains? (Examples:
railings, tactile pavers at crossings, sounds, platform announcements, etc.)
• Are there any elements of
light rail platforms and station areas that are
particularly helpful in using and navigating
to/from platforms and light rail vehicles? If so,
what are they? (To give you some examples, we
have heard that the metal plate indicating “Paid
Fare Zone” at the ends of the Green Line
platforms is a helpful landmark. Also, that
having a Go To card validator consistently at the
platform ends makes it easy to locate this machine).
• Are there any elements of
light rail platforms and station areas that
present challenges in using and navigating
to/from platforms and light rail vehicles? If so,
what are they? (Example: have trouble locating a
Go To card validator, no pedestrian push buttons
to cross streets at platform landings).
• Are there ways in which the
trains operate that are helpful to you as a user?
(Example: announcements of station stops,
announcements of on which track trains are
approaching, automatic door opening during warmer months).
• Are there ways in which the
trains operate that present challenges to you as
a user? (Example: vehicle doors not automatically
opening in the winter, announcements not
providing useful information at the right time).
• If a GPS-based application
could be applied to geo-locate certain platform
elements, what platform elements would be the
most important to locate? (Examples: ticket
vending machines, Go To card validators, trash cans, etc.)
• If asked would you be
willing to participate in a future planning
meeting with Metro Transit to help with platform improvements?
I tried to think of everyone in the office who
rode the train and of those who visit us
regularly, but if there is anyone else you know
that is blind, low vision or DeafBlind and rides
the train, please feel free to forward this to
them; I'm sure Metro Transit would appreciate as much input as possible.
Thanks!
Samantha Fischer | Administrative Coordinator
Department of Employment and Economic Development
State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave West Suite 240, St. Paul, MN 55114
Direct: 651-539-2271
<http://mn.gov/deed>Web |
<http://twitter.com/mndeed>Twitter | <http://facebook.com/mndeed>Facebook
<http://mn.gov/deed/whymn>
Minnesota: Number 1 State for Business, CNBC, 2015
From: Zlimen, Kimberly
[<mailto:Kimberly.Zlimen at metrotransit.org>mailto:Kimberly.Zlimen at metrotransit.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 8:25 AM
To: Kalland, Laurie (DEED)
<<mailto:laurie.kalland at state.mn.us>laurie.kalland at state.mn.us>
Cc: Joseph Kapper
(<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.com>jkapper at srfconsulting.com)
<<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.com>jkapper at srfconsulting.com>
Subject: RE: Metro Transit - light rail platform
improvements for customers with visual disabilities
Hi Laurie,
That would be great if SSB could forward these
questions to your network. For a reply email, you
could include mine
(<mailto:kimberly.zlimen at metrotransit.org>kimberly.zlimen at metrotransit.org)
and copy the consultant who is working with me in
case I am out of the office (Joe Kapper with SRF
Consulting,
<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.com>jkapper at srfconsulting.com
– also copied here).
From: Zlimen, Kimberly
[<mailto:Kimberly.Zlimen at metrotransit.org>mailto:Kimberly.Zlimen at metrotransit.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 2:03 PM
To: Kalland, Laurie (DEED)
<<mailto:laurie.kalland at state.mn.us>laurie.kalland at state.mn.us>
Cc: Joseph Kapper
(<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.com>jkapper at srfconsulting.com)
<<mailto:jkapper at srfconsulting.com>jkapper at srfconsulting.com>
Subject: Metro Transit - light rail platform
improvements for customers with visual disabilities
Hello Laurie,
You and I spoke yesterday about a study Metro
Transit is conducting. This study will recommend
improvements Metro Transit could make to our
light rail platforms to improve accessibility for
customers with visual disabilities. The study
scope includes our existing Blue and Green Line
light rail platforms and immediately adjacent
street/track crossings. As a part of the work, we
will be reviewing local and national design
guidance documents that are relevant to the
topic, and reaching out to other transit agencies
to learn about infrastructure or assistive
wayfinding they have integrated into their
systems. While we are focusing on the existing
light rail platforms, both the Blue and Green
Line have planned extensions and we would aim to
apply any improvements system wide.
As we discussed yesterday, it would be very
helpful to get feedback and ideas from customers
who have visual disabilities to ensure that our
recommended improvements consider the needs and
wants of this community. You mentioned that we
could potentially set up a meeting with members
of State Services for the Blind to get feedback.
Questions we might ask could include:
· What types of information do you use to
assist you in navigating the platforms? To
board/exit trains? (Examples: railings, tactile
pavers at crossings, sounds, platform announcements, etc.)
· Are there any elements of light rail
platforms and station areas that are particularly
helpful in using and navigating to/from platforms
and light rail vehicles? If so, what are
they? (To give you some examples, we have heard
that the metal plate indicating “Paid Fare Zone”
at the ends of the Green Line platforms is a
helpful landmark. Also, that having a Go To card
validator consistently at the platform ends makes
it easy to locate this machine).
· Are there any elements of light rail
platforms and station areas that present
challenges in using and navigating to/from
platforms and light rail vehicles? If so, what
are they? (Example: have trouble locating a Go
To card validator, no pedestrian push buttons to
cross streets at platform landings).
· Are there ways in which the trains
operate that are helpful to you as a user?
(Example: announcements of station stops,
announcements of on which track trains are
approaching, automatic door opening during warmer months).
· Are there ways in which the trains
operate that present challenges to you as a user?
(Example: vehicle doors not automatically opening
in the winter, announcements not providing useful
information at the right time).
· If a GPS-based application could be
applied to geo-locate certain platform elements,
what platform elements would be the most
important to locate? (Examples: ticket vending
machines, Go To card validators, trash cans, etc.)
If you think meetings – one now as we’re just
getting started, and one later as we have some
more solid recommendations – would be the best
way to engage your members, it would be great to
schedule something with you. Or I could submit
questions in another format, like an electronic questionnaire as well. Or both.
Let me know your thoughts, and perhaps we could
set up a meeting. I think I mentioned it to you,
but I am due with a baby in the next few weeks so
meeting soon is better for me.
Thank you!
Kim
Kimberly Zlimen, P.E.
Engineering & Facilities
cid:image001.gif at 01CB52C8.6FF0CCE0
560 Sixth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
<mailto:kimberly.zlimen at metrotransit.org>kimberly.zlimen at metrotransit.org
Office: 612-349-7475 / Cell: 612-396-7618
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