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I am a woman who is blind, who has raised five children and who is now approaching 71 years of life. I travel independently in my neighborhood, in the city and through train stations and airports. Because I am president of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut I come in contact with many, many blind people both in Connecticut and all over the country.

The idea of a variety of signals along with traffic sounds, not to mention people sounds, is abhorrent to me, not to mention unnecessary. People who are blind learn to listen for traffic, not bells and whistles - the latter only confuse. In busy intersections a simple buzzer indicating that pedestrians have the right of way either way is more than enough. To spend millions of dollars on added "noise" at every street crossing without exception in the name of blind individuals is a terrible waste of money..