Terry M. Olsen

October 15, 2002

Dear Access Board:

I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho. I know many of the people who went to Portland, Oregon to protest the unnecessary waste of billions of taxpayer dollars to install the "accessible pedestrian signals" (APS). Many of the blind people I know might have trouble with ONE or TWO intersections in Boise. However, more noise at these locations would actually make these places more unsafe for cane users or dog users to be able to judge traffic. This is where a vibrotactile APS would probably be appropriate. But as I understand it, the plan you want to implement requires beeping locator tones and detectable bumps at every crosswalk that has a signal across the country! This is ridiculous! Please, please only change those intersections when the traffic patterns do not provide the clues the blind pedestrian can rely upon to know it is safe to walk.

In Boise the blind people I know would love you if you could get those transportation dollars to be used for more taxi scripts and a better bus system. Don't waste it on tones that are unnecessary and probably exceedingly unpleasant for many as well.

We also have a store in Boise that has those stupid bumps that you are requiring. Anyone I ask tells me the bumps are not helpful, in fact they are harmful. When it is wet, the bumps make the pathway extremely slippery.

From the newspaper clippings from Portland, it sounded like the two different blind groups talking on this issue were of equal number. That is not so. The National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of blind people in the country. We have over 50,000 members across the country. I understand the ACB doesn't even have half that number! Even so, surely the ACB doesn't want more intersections made dangerous for the blind!

Please reconsider these guidelines you have for the intersections across the country.

Thank you,

Terry M. Olsen