Comment from Roderick, Rick

Dear Access Board members: I would like to submit the following comments to the Board concerning ATBCB. I am totally blind and hard of hearing. I do not have good directional hearing. I would like to make the following proposals: 1. Accessible pedestrian signals are very important to me, since I often can't hear traffic directions. I think they should be mandated for all downtown intersections, as well as shopping centers and schools at all levels. 2. I am also very concerned about the placement of curbcuts. I believe that placing them along with detectable warnings is a good idea. However, they should face in the direction of crossing. Therefore, eight curbcuts should be placed at a four-way intersection. Placing them at the diagonal makes it very difficult for me and my dog to get proper alignment. I believe that that traffic engineers should take account of both pedestrian and automobile traffic. We are living in a world in which fuel prices will continue to accelerate over the long-term. Pedestrian safety becomes important, not only for the blind, but for a large segment of society.