Last week, the President of the national Federation of the Blind of West
Virginia clarified the issues raised in an article distributed on
vicug-l.  Here are his comments as distributed by David Andrews.

Kelly




From: "David Andrews" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 7:11 AM




 From Ed McDonald, President, NFB of West Virginia:

From: "Ed McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk Mailing List"
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 9:57 PM
Subject: Re: [peeps-talk] Bending philosophy


> Just for the record, let me make clear that the project described and
the
statements quoted in this article reflect the efforts and words of a
single
individual who acted and spoke without the authority or endorsement of
either his local chapter or state affiliate of the National Federation of
the Blind.

  As affiliate president, I spoke at a public meeting called in June of
this
year for the purpose of discussing this issue and set forth the
Federation's
most recent position statements concerning the issue of accessible
pedestrian signals. Needless to say, my remarks were not quoted in the
article, and the reporter on hand for the meeting did not seek me out for
a
further interview. I was not even aware of the article until it was
posted
to this list. It apparently appeared in the local paper some two months
after the meeting.

 At its recent state convention, the NFB of West Virginia unanimously
adopted a resolution reaffirming its support for what it regarded as the
Federation's well-crafted position on this issue. The resolution further
states that Federation leaders at both the state and local chapter levels
shall be guided by this position in all future negotiations with the
State
Department of Transportation or any other state and local officials
concerning any proposals for the installation of accessible pedestrian
signals.
>
 Ed McDonald




 original Message -----
> From: "Bruce Chalberg" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk Mailing List"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 3:45 PM
> Subject: Fw: [peeps-talk] Bending philosophy
>
>
> >
> >
> > > W. Virginia NFB Chapter Brings Audible Traffic Signals to Community
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > > This article is from the August 24, 2001 issue of The Dominion Post
of
> Morgantown, West Virginia.
> > >
> > >
> > > State pilots project to equip
> > > intersections with signals for blind At corner of High and Willey,
> > > and High and Walnut streets
> > >
> > > BY JOHN WILFONG
> > >
> > > The Dominion Post
> > >
> > > A state pilot project to equip two downtown Morgantown
intersections
> > > with audible and tactile crossing signals may serve as a showcase
> > > for the state. The type of signals the state Division of Highways
> > > plans to install will at least be the first of their kind in the
> > > state. The pilot project is the result of efforts by the
> > > Morgantown-Kingwood National Federation of the Blind, which worked
> > > closely with federal, state and local officials. Bill Bragg, vice
> > > president of the local federation chapter, said the signals will
> > > benefit many in the community, not just the blind or visually
> > > impaired. The handicapped and even the elderly will gain an added
> > > safety feature while crossing downtown streets. "We're very proud
of
> > > our city officials and the Division of Highways for their help in
> > > getting these crossing signals installed in our rapidly growing
> > > city," Bragg said. "This is a move we should have started 40 years
> > > ago." The DOH said the first two intersections will be a pilot
> > > program, which will be monitored and fine-tuned before the decision
> > > to proceed with other intersections. The local blind federation
> > > chapter had identified 11 intersections to be considered priorities
> > > for the signals that not only emit sounds when it's safe to cross,
> > > but also have vibrating tactile sensors transmitting the same
> > > information. The signals will be installed at the intersection of
> > > High and Willey streets, and the intersection of High and Walnut
> > > streets. Work is expected to begin in the next 60 days. While most
> > > of the federation's recommendations included streets downtown, the
> > > group has added the intersection of University Avenue and Foundry
> > > Street. Bragg said since the DOH is turning the temporary signal
> > > into a permanent one, the accessible signals should be installed
> > > there as part of the project. University Avenue is by far the most
> > > dangerous road to cross despite any visual impairment, he said. But
> > > he understands the need to test the signals and their efficiency.
> > > "We do not want to see any money wasted," Bragg said. "We encourage
> > > them to install the signals at more intersections, but we
understand
> > > the need to do it correctly. We want to do it right the first
time."
> > > One of the units costs about $250, depending on its features. And
> > > each intersection would require several units each. The widespread
> > > installation of the signals also holds the potential of benefiting
> > > the city, and WVU as a whole, Bragg said, aside from merely
offering
> > > added protection for the blind. "There are many parents and
students
> > > who don't know the town," he said. "These signals would make the
> > > streets safer not only for us, but everyone else. Who knows?
Several
> > > years down the road, accessible streets could be a very attractive
> > > selling point for the university. "We know of several people who
> > > would like to attend the university, but fear the difficulty of
> > >     navigating these streets."
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the
Blind,
> NFB.
> > To view or search an archive of messages for this list, go to:
> http://www.nfbnet.org
> > For more information about the NFB, please call (410) 659-9314, point
your
> > internet browser to http://www.nfb.org or Telnet to nfbnet.org.
> >
>


---


--
This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind,
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