Edmond, Okla., want to enhance transit accessibility with sidewalks, ramps, crossing signals for blind people

From The Oklahoman:

EDMOND, Okla. — The Edmond Public Transportation Committee has asked the city council for $100,000 to develop a five-year plan for infrastructure improvements along the city’s transit routes.

Improvements could include sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-approved ramps and signaling and signage for the hearing impaired and visually impaired.

The move is spurred by figures that show public bus trips where the rider brought along a wheelchair or bicycle topped 2,400 from October through February.

The improvements included in the plan would accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities.

A letter to City Manager Larry Stevens was approved this week by transportation committee members.

During a five-month period starting in October, 1,242 trips included a wheelchair and an additional 1,186 trips included a bicycle.

Transportation committee members are requesting the city engineer and planning staff review the infrastructure along and adjacent to transit routes and begin to develop the five-year plan.

Improvements could include sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-approved ramps and signaling and signage for the hearing and visually impaired.

Citylink, Edmond’s public bus system, has provided 114,539 rides for the first eight months of the fiscal year that started in July. Bus drivers recorded a total of 109,156 rides during the previous fiscal year.