[Nfbf-l] FRIENDLY TAXIS, HIGHLIGHTS OTHER EFFORTS TO BENEFIT PITTSBURGH'S DISABILITIES COMMUNITY

[Alan Dicey]

Thanks to Stephanae Mccoy for passing this a long.
Good Morning,


Following is a link followed by text to the Mayor's Press Release referenced 
in the subject line.


http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/article.htm?id=2028



Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl

MAYOR RAVENSTAHL WELCOMES ADA-FRIENDLY TAXIS, HIGHLIGHTS OTHER EFFORTS TO 
BENEFIT PITTSBURGH'S DISABILITIES COMMUNITY

      (PITTSBURGH) Feb. 11, 2013 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today joined 
Pittsburgh Transportation Group (PTG) and members of the City and County 
American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Taskforce in welcoming 15 new, 
handicapped-accessible taxis to offer service to Pittsburgh and Allegheny 
County. The taxis made their first official "run" today picking up Lucy 
Spruill, an ADA taskforce member, and bringing her to the press announcement 
held at Market Square.

      "Since I've been Mayor, we've made significant strides in making sure 
that Pittsburgh is a livable city for everyone," said Ravenstahl, "This has 
included the installation of over 500 ADA-friendly crosswalks and an 
aggressive plan to make all City intersections audible and safe for the 
hearing- and vision-impaired. As we continue to improve our efforts, I'm 
thrilled that PTG has recognized the needs of Pittsburgh's disabled 
community by adding handicapped-accessible taxis to its fleet."

      The vehicles were built to include dramatic enhancements in 
accessibility, comfort, durability and safety for the ADA community.

      "Built for as many as six individuals including the driver, wheelchair 
or scooter, and four additional passengers, they clearly are the best 
specialized vehicle on the market," said Jamie Campolongo, PTG President. 
"This robust design allows the wheelchair passenger to actually ride shotgun 
and not be relegated to the rear of the vehicle. "

      Fares remain the same as they are for all Yellow Cabs. For wheelchair 
service, the customer simply calls Yellow Cab at 412-321-8100 and requests 
wheelchair service.

      "Having accessible taxis in Pittsburgh is a great feature for 
residents and visitors with disabilities and we salute Mayor Ravenstahl and 
the Pittsburgh Transportation Group for recognizing this need," said ADA 
Taskforce Chair Paul O'Hanlon.

      At the announcement, Mayor Ravenstahl highlighted other steps the City 
is taking to improve the ADA environment. Last year, the Mayor created the 
City's One Step Packet, which provides business owners with information on 
federal ADA requirements and available resources, such as information on the 
Urban Redevelopment Authority's small business programs that may provide 
financial assistance for businesses wishing to become ADA-friendly. In 
addition, the Mayor introduced legislation that waives over $200 in 
permitting fees that a business owner must pay when making 
handicapped-accessible renovations. The One Step Packet can be obtained by 
visiting pittsburghpa.gov/dcp or by calling the Mayor's 3-1-1 Response Line.

      "The One Step Packet not only helps the disabilities community improve 
life quality, but it also benefits business owners," said Lucy Spruill, 
Issues Director for United Cerebral Palsy. "By removing the barrier created 
by a single step, businesses open themselves up to the entire community by 
being inclusive of people with mobility disabilities. This is a win-win 
solution for both sides."

      The packet also includes a listing of architectural firms who have 
committed to providing no-cost, or low-cost, services to businesses 
interested in creating an accessible entrance.

      "With the goal of accessibility at its heart, this customer-friendly 
packet provides information that could help businesses make capital 
improvements at a significantly reduced cost," Ravenstahl said.

      At the Mayor's direction, the City has been working hard to install 
more ADA-friendly curb ramps at City intersections and audible traffic 
signals for the visually impaired. These audible traffic signals safely 
instruct visually impaired pedestrians when and which way it is safe to 
cross and include vibrating arrows for deaf pedestrians.

      Other efforts include the creation of the ADA Coordinator position and 
the addition of an accessibility checklist to the Special Event Permit 
Applications, which guides event organizers on how to make events more 
accessible. The City has developed a strategy to make all the traffic 
signals audible over the next 10 years. Hospital Compliance Guidelines for 
Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing consumers was recently released and a 
similar packet is in the works for cognitively impaired consumers.



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Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
512 City County Building | 414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
telephone: 412-255-2626 | facsimile: 412-255-2687






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