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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2006 'Blind Sign' street markers may be replaced in Medford By Meg Landers Mail Tribune Two years after the first red plastic, raised crosswalk markers for the vision-impaired hit downtown street corners, Medford city officials want to end to the program in favor of a potentially less hazardous system used nationwide. "They don't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Cory Crebbin, public works director. The city began installing Blind Sign strips in June 2004 at 10 intersections, including at Eighth Street and Central Avenue. Invented by Kevin Stockton of Roseburg, who was blinded by a shotgun blast to the face when he was 40, the blind signs are 2-foot-long raised red plastic strips glued to sidewalks at corners that direct vision-impaired pedestrians to the crosswalk. Sherrie Messer, director of Southern Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing, has been spearheading efforts to get the markers installed in Medford. Two years ago, the Medford Urban Renewal Agency contributed $5,100 to cover materials for 10 intersections, and the city of Medford contributed about $7,000 for various installations requested by the City Council. "Crosswalks can be hazards when a pedestrian is blind or vision-impaired," said Messer, adding she received good feedback and was hoping to expand the program. "I was asking MURA for the money and the city for the labor, but it's not going to happen." Crebbin said Corvallis also has installed the markers, but not before obtaining a waiver from a state traffic committee for varying from the standard. In a letter to the sight-and- hearing center, Crebbin said the city must apply for and receive such a waiver, and if one is not granted the city may have to remove markers already in place. Also, he said if the devices are not adopted as the new ADA standard, the city will have different markings than other jurisdictions, which may pose a risk for the vision-impaired who are visiting or new to the area. Also, he said a citizen complained of tripping over the large, raised markers; in this case, they may be considered a hazard, Crebbin said. He said the city has started using an alternative device used nationwide: yellow rectangular rubber panels that are recessed into the concrete. The panels are installed as streets are built or renovated. "That's what everybody's putting in everywhere, until they change it again," he said. For the time being, the red strips already in place will remain, according to Crebbin. According to the Commission for the Blind in Medford, several hundred people in Jackson County are legally blind. For more information about the crosswalk strips and their creator, see www.blindsigns.com on the Web. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or at [email protected] Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy