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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Federation colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you may be aware, the MTA plans to overhaul the bus system serving the greater Baltimore area. I attended one of the informational meetings yesterday. The MTA is looking for input and feedback from the public. But the chance to give
our opinion at this stage ends by the close of business on Monday, January 11.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are a bus rider in the Baltimore area, I strongly urge you to review the information about the proposed bus plan, which is not written in stone yet. We as users of the public transportation system can still raise concerns about how
the proposed changes would affect us individually.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can review general information about BaltimoreLink at <a href="http://mta.maryland.gov/baltimorelink">
http://mta.maryland.gov/baltimorelink</a>. Much of the information is accessible, but not all. Fellow Federationist, David Bouchard, was largely responsible for making sure that the descriptions of all the proposed routes are accessible. You can review those
at <a href="http://mta.maryland.gov/baltimorelink-bus-routes">http://mta.maryland.gov/baltimorelink-bus-routes</a>. There are three types of routes listed on this page: LocalLink, CityLink, and ExpressLink routes. Under each of these headings is a link that
takes you to the accessible descriptions of each group of routes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition to voicing your individual concerns, you should consider commenting on the MTA’s responsibility to maintain and enhance accessibility to online information and bus signage. We want to be sure that we as blind bus riders have
access to information about bus routes, schedules, and location of bus stops. Much of this could be done online. We also want to make sure that the new buses have talking stop announcements and signage that is readable by riders with low vision.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You may also want to know and comment on that the current proposed plan no longer provides direct access from Penn Station to the Riverside neighborhood, where NFB headquarters is located. One would have to transfer downtown from a CityLink
bus which should run fairly frequently to a LocalLink bus, which will run less often to get to NFB.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can give your input to the MTA online at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TransitImprovement">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TransitImprovement</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can also Call the BaltimoreLink hotline at 410-454-1998 and leave a message.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please take the time and give your feedback. Whatever the new bus plan turns out to be, it will affect blind bus riders for many years to come. Your observations will carry more weight and potentially make a greater impact, if you give
specific and detailed information rather than just making general comments. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ellen Ringlein, President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Greater Baltimore Chapter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p>
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