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Hi NYABS,<br>
<br>
Below is a public letter from members of the NYC Council regarding
new city laws that will require audible pedestrian signals at many
street corners in the upcoming years, and also require accessible
information about transportation projects on city websites. Enjoy!<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Kathryn, President<br>
<br>
_____________________________________________________________________<br>
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<p>Dear New Yorker,<br>
<br>
With so many streetscape changes taking place across the
City, it's <br>
important for New Yorkers to have access to the information
that they need <br>
to safely get around the five boroughs.<br>
<br>
This past week, the City Council passed a package of bills
that will help <br>
make our streets safer and more accessible for those often
most affected by <br>
these changes – the blind, the visually impaired, and people
requiring the <br>
use of a wheelchair.<br>
<br>
The first bill, Intro. 183, sponsored by Council Member Gale
Brewer, <br>
requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish
an Accessible <br>
Pedestrian Signals (APS) program. APS's are necessary and
potentially <br>
life-saving, as they audibly notify those with visual
impairments when it is <br>
safe to cross the street. Under the program, DOT will work
with the Mayor's <br>
Office for People with Disabilities, advocates and members
of the visually <br>
impaired community to identify intersections that present
the greatest <br>
crossing difficulty for visually impaired people.<br>
<br>
Intro. 183 also requires DOT to install an accessible
pedestrian signal at <br>
each corner of 25 intersections every year, beginning this
year. There will <br>
be consistent examination of the program: DOT must analyze
the program's <br>
progress annually, and post a report on its website,
identifying 50 <br>
intersections in need of these signals while also exploring
ways to expand <br>
the program.<br>
<br>
Finally, DOT must post on its website the locations of all
accessible <br>
pedestrian signals sorted by community and Council district.<br>
<br>
Our second bill, Intro. 745, sponsored by Council Member
James Vacca, goes <br>
in tandem with the first as it requires DOT to post on its
website, in a <br>
format accessible to people with disabilities, the location
of all past and <br>
future major transportation projects, as well as past and
future <br>
installations or removals of bicycle lanes, pedestrian
plazas, and several <br>
categories of signals, including APS.<br>
<br>
This bill will ensure that disabled individuals are aware of
ongoing changes <br>
to city streets and of those that will be made in the
future. This <br>
notification will be helpful to all New Yorkers, especially
those with <br>
visual impairments and the elderly, so that they can make
necessary <br>
arrangements to safely travel throughout the city.<br>
<br>
The third and final bill, Intro. 449, sponsored by Council
Member G. Oliver <br>
Koppell, is related to the livery passenger bill of rights.
Currently, a <br>
passenger bill of rights must be posted in all livery
vehicles. Intro. 449 <br>
will add a much-needed provision to the bill, informing
passengers that they <br>
are entitled to request a wheelchair accessible vehicle and
receive service <br>
equivalent to non-wheelchair users.<br>
<br>
We would like to thank Council Member Brewer and all our
colleagues for <br>
their hard work and support getting these important measures
passed. <br>
Special thanks as well to all of the advocates who worked
closely with us on <br>
these issues.<br>
<br>
These bills, which we expect Mayor Bloomberg to sign into
law shortly, will <br>
help make our streets safer and free of obstacles as we
continue our efforts <br>
to help make sure the City stays accessible for all New
Yorkers.<br>
<br>
If you have any questions or comments about the information
above, please <br>
don't hesitate to contact Lyle Frank, counsel to the
Council's <br>
Transportation Committee. He can be reached by phone at
(212) 788-9188 or <br>
by email at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lfrank%40council.nyc.gov">lfrank@council.nyc.gov</a>.
You can also send your questions and <br>
comments to us directly at <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:speakerquinn%40council.nyc.gov">speakerquinn@council.nyc.gov</a>.<br>
<br>
Thanks so much, and we hope to be in touch again soon with
additional news <br>
and updates.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Christine C. Quinn<br>
Speaker<br>
NYC Council<br>
<br>
James Vacca<br>
Chair, Transportation Committee<br>
NYC Council<br>
<br>
G. Oliver Koppell<br>
Chair, Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug
Abuse & <br>
Disability Services Committee <br>
<br>
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