[nfbmi-talk] Federation of the Blind to Protest at Detroit Metro Airport this Sunday

[Larry Posont]

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
7189 Connors Rd.
Munising, MI 49862

April 24, 2015

Dear Michigan Federationists:

If you are interested in attending the Metro Airport picket  this
Sunday please contact Fred Wurtzel 517-256-5575,
f.wurtzel at att.net
or me
Larry Posont (313) 727-3546
president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
Sincerely,
Larry Posont
President
 National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
 (906) 387-3546
Email: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
 Web page: www.nfbmi.org

Munising home of the beautiful Pictured Rocks.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MICHIGAN

Contacts:   Larry Posont, President, 313-727-3546, president at nfbmi.org

Fred Wurtzel, Spokesperson, 517-256-5575, f.wurtzel at att.net



For Immediate Release

April 24, 2015



Federation of the Blind to Protest at Detroit Metro Airport this Sunday

The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBMI) plans to
picket at Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal this Sunday, April
26, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.



NFBMI is protesting the airport's relocation of the public
transportation bus stop from curbside at the terminal to furthest
possible location away from it, at the far south end of the Ground
Transportation Center (GTC) in the parking ramp across the road.



"The bus stop used to be easily accessible for blind people, and now
it is not," says NFBMI spokesman Fred Wurtzel of Lansing. "The
Americans with Disabilities Act does not permit public transportation
facilities to make things less accessible. We want the bus stop moved
back to where it was."



Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) relocated the public transportation stop
for Michigan Flyer, AirRide, and SMART buses in September 2014 without
a prior public hearing-- despite concerns expressed by Gov. Rick
Snyder, the State Transportation Commission, and other public
officials, and despite protests from many people with disabilities,
two of whom sued the airport alleging ADA violations.



In October 2014, NFBMI passed a resolution calling upon the Wayne
County Airport Authority to "immediately and permanently reverse its
decision to move the bus stop for the Michigan Flyer, Air Ride and
SMART buses to the Ground Transportation Center and return it to its
former location at the entrance to the McNamara Terminal."



Among other problems, the relief areas for service animals such as
guide dogs are located at the terminal itself--far from the new bus
stop, close to the former stop.



This month, NFBMI President Larry Posont wrote to Delta Airlines CEO
Richard Anderson asking for help in reversing the airport's relocation
of the bus stop.



"Delta Airlines is the primary bondholder and tenant of the McNamara
Terminal," Posont said. "The new GTC bus stop is exposed to harsh
weather and located 200 yards from the nearest indoor waiting area,
accessible restrooms, and water fountain. This is a serious hardship
for public transportation bus riders, particularly seniors and those
of us with disabilities."



"The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that passenger waiting
areas be placed to minimize the distance which wheelchair users and
other persons with disabilities may have to travel compared to the
general public," Posont added. "Instead, the Airport maximized the
distance."



Nonetheless, Delta Airlines refused to intercede.



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