Denver Commission for People with Disabilities Cars Gort ‘caiman 201 W.catax ve. Dept 1102 omer.co 60202 :720013.8480 ‘7209138480 wn dervorgevorg/sabltes February 7, 2012 Dear Policymakers, The mission of the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities is to promote and enhance equality for people with disabilities through empowerment, advocacy and education / by working with community members, and City and County of Denver officials and ‘employees who have the ability to affect change. Its in this spirit that we are writing to show ‘our support for the proposed pedestrian bridge that will provide a safe and accessible connection for pedestrians, including those with mobility impairments, to RTD's Colorado light rail station. When surveying the landscape of this area, the current opportunities for pedestrians to cross over |-25 are obviously undesirable and potentially unsafe. We are aware that the need for pedestrians/bicyclists to safely and conveniently cross I-25 to the Colorado Station | has been identified in five different plans over 12 years, clearly demonstrating the very real need for this connection. People who are easily able to use any transportation option tend to take their freedom and choices for granted, but for people to whom one step presents an insurmountable barrier, the inability to go out or travel may mean isolation. People with mobility challenges need to be able to reach their workplaces, medical and dental appointments, and shop for groceries, ete. Without access to transit, these seemingly simple activities take on a life of their own, requiring planning and the assistance of others. When an easy and accessible connection to mass transit is provided — which is the purpose of the proposed bridge economic and social advantages are equalized for all, ‘We are supportive of the location of the bridge and dual access with both stairs and a ramp a it provides the greatest connectivity between the surrounding neighborhoods and the light rail station. The bridge and ramp location also directly connects with bus stops and is the | best option for the safety and security of users as it is accessible and visible. Building the | bridge with the ramp option guarantees that a person with a mobility impairment never has | to worry about being trapped inside a malfunctioning elevator or stranded with no way to | reach their destination. The ramp assures an accessible and safe connection at all times. This bridge project represents an important commitment to Denver's overall goal of providing transportation choices and universal access to a connected multimodal transportation system and is aligned with the mission of the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. ry ees emerge aoe!Officers of the DCPD Curtis Garrett, Chairman: UAW Julie Farrar, Vice Chairman: (on Chanda Hinton Leichtle, Combeiunications Officer: