Accessible Streetscape Summit
The NYU Rudin Center for Transportation co-hosted the Accessible Streets Summit with the NYC Department of Transportation on January 29, 2018. The event was designed to improve streetscape access for New Yorkers with varying disabilities, and was attended by more than 100 transportation professionals and advocates.
All photos below were provided by the New York City Department of Transportation.
Polly Trottenberg, NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner, remarked that DOT prioritizes improving pedestrian crossings and ramps at the 300,000 corners in New York City.
Leon Heyward, Deputy Commissioner, Sidewalk Inspection Management: "We’re identifying best practices and innovative solutions for improving street accessibility."
We’re planning for an autonomous future on city streets - let’s make it safe and productive for people with disabilities. - Victor Calise, Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
NYC spends $60M per year on pedestrian ramps, more than any US city. - Mitchell L. Moss, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
California’s curb ramp regulations predate federal ADA by 10 years. - Kevin Jensen, Accessibility Coordinator, San Francisco Public Works
In Delaware, accessibility standards are driven by the stakeholders, not ADA requirements. Involves some deviations that are still usable by community. We take risks and make accommodations at our own expense. - Robert McCleary, State of Delaware DOT
Identifying problems, developing priority projects and communicating with the public are the keys to creating truly accessible streets. - Joe Astroth, CEO, Cyclomedia
Chris Pangilinan, moderator, asks the expert panel how tech improves services. They respond: mapping/navigation, smart road crossings, visualization tools for planners, and looking ahead to autonomous vehicles. Must ensure tech is accessible and gives right info and right time.
Cities are hesitant to jump into technology deployments due to high costs and rapid obsolescence; it’s unclear where small cities can and should invest in accessibility technologies. - Melissa Anderson, VP for accessibility engineering, Cole & Associates.
In France, new smart pedestrian signals give visually impaired users on-demand audio navigation cues in real-time based on smartphone app or distributed remote control. The tools also guide users precisely to building entrances and stairs using audio signals - because mainstream navigation tools guiding users to addresses are not granular enough for these users. - Sylvain Denoncin, CEO, OKEENEA
The Accessible Streetscape event was organized by Quemel Arroyo, ADA Coordinator & Disability Service Facilitator at the NYC Department of Transportation.
