Linda Rapka

October 12, 2002

To Whom It May Concern:

I am sending this letter as both a concerned citizen and the reader/driver of a woman who is totally blind. Incidentally, I have met and befriended several blind and visually impaired individuals. My boss has used her white cane to travel independently throughout this state and nation for years. She has encountered audible signals and detectable warnings at street crossings and finds them to be totally useless and sometimes dangerous. She uses the traffic sounds to cross intersections and finds that chirping birds only confuse the noise level at busy intersections. Other blind people I know share this same sentiment.

It is my understanding that the draft guidelines intend to eventually place audible signals and detectable warnings at every single intersection in every single city. I find this totally outrageous. This is an expenditure unwanted by those I know who are blind, and will impose a completely unnecessary burden upon taxpayers.

Sincerely,

Linda Rapka