William T. Cuttle

October 20, 2002

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my concern about the current plan to institute audible traffic signals and detectible warnings at all intersections. I am a blind person who lives and works in Boston, Massachusetts. To the sighted community, I can understand how installing such devices can be viewed has helpful. To the blind community, however, this is not always the case. When I approach an intersection, it’s important for me to be able to listen to the traffic patterns. At some intersections, audible signals detract from my ability to gather information to safely cross the street. At other intersections, having an audible signal is very helpful. My point is that audible traffic signals and detectible warnings should be installed at intersections on a case by case basis after consulting with blind travelers.

If you have any questions regarding my comments, please contact me at the address listed below.

William T. Cuttle