[Nyabs] Press Release from Committee on Transportation Hearing on Accessibility Legislation

Thu Feb 9 02:05:53 UTC 2012

Hey everyone,

Below if a press release from a hearing in which City Council members call
for support for three bills that will dramatically improve the experience
of blind and visually impaired people naigaing the streets of NYC. As many
of you have probably noticed, "pedestrian plazas" are becoming more populat
and the need for audio pedestrin signals is becoming more acknowledged.

Best,
Kathryn

  ****
 *THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK*

OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES VACCA**

****

*250 Broadway, Suite 1749***

*New York, NY 10007*

*(212) 788-7375***
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***
****
January 25, 2012****

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Contact:          Vito Signorile, 646-596-3338

                        Will Colegrove (CM Brewer), 212-788-6975

* *****

Vacca, Brewer, & Visually Impaired Advocates Call for Enhanced Safety
Measures in City Streets****

* *****

Prior to the City Council Committee on Transportation Hearing on Wednesday,
January 25, 2012, Transportation Chair James Vacca and Council Member Gale
Brewer joined members of the blind and visually impaired community at East
17th Street and Broadway in Manhattan to demonstrate the difficulties that
exist for low vision New York City residents when crossing the street at an
intersection.****

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At the hearing, Vacca and Brewer demanded from the city Department of
Transportation that the needs of all street users are met. The committee
heard testimony on three critical bills, Intro 487, Intro 183 and Intro
745, which are intended to make New York streets safer for the blind and
visually impaired. Members of the blind and visually impaired community
also testified at the hearing, including Karen Gourgey, Chair of
Pedestrians for Accessible and Safe Streets.****

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Introduction 487 by Council Member Brewer would require the installation of
detectable warning surfaces around the perimeter of pedestrian plazas and
bike lanes throughout the entire city. Introduction 183 by Council Member
Brewer would require the increased installation of audible pedestrian
signals throughout the city, allowing for safer street crossing for the
blind and visually impaired. Introduction 745 by Council Member Vacca would
require DOT to post on its website a list of all major street redesigns in
a format that is accessible to people with any disability. ****

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“Pedestrian plazas are quickly becoming a way of life throughout our city
and we must make sure that all of our pedestrians know where the plaza ends
and oncoming traffic begins. This is clearly a matter of safety for not
only the members of the visually impaired community, but for all
pedestrians. DOT must do more,” said Vacca.****

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In addition, DOT testified that Accessible Pedestrian Signals at newly
signalized intersections carry a minimal cost and Council Members Vacca and
Brewer called for all new intersections throughout the City to be equipped
with all new APS. Accessible signals provide auditory cues for members of
the blind community to know when it is safe to cross the street.****

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“The purpose of Intro 183 and Intro 487 is clear: to make New York City
streets safe for all of our residents, visually impaired and those with
20/20 vision,” said Brewer. “Both bills are a step in the right direction
and I hope this will start a new and important conversation about equality
in accessibility for all New Yorkers.”****

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“Every street signal in our city should be equipped with APS. We have curb
cuts all over the city that allow wheelchair users to travel anywhere they
would like to go. The situation is no less urgent for members of the blind
and visually impaired community. APS is not a privilege, it’s a right,”
Vacca said.****

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“It’s thrilling that we have finally reached this point where people are
talking programmatically about accessible pedestrian signals and doing the
kind of work that really helps to make our city accessible to all,” said
Gourgey. “I hope that we can work together and figure out what will be the
best solutions for pedestrians.”****

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###****

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William Colegrove****

Director of Legislation and Budget****

Office of Council Member Gale A. Brewer****

Council District 6: Upper West Side and Clinton****

250 Broadway, Suite 1744****

New York, NY  10007****

p: 212-788-6975****

f: 212-513-7717****

wcolegrove at council.nyc.gov****

****

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__._,_.___

-- 
Kathryn Carroll
St. John's University School of Law 2013
(Ph.) 347-455-1521
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