The distance and accessibility of the busy Denver airport from that city’s southern suburbs has resulted in many of those suburbanites looking south to Colorado Springs when considering air travel. Easier to get to and easier to get through, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) will soon be even more inviting for those suburbanites and especially so if they have a hearing loss.
Loop New Mexico has just learned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $6 million grant to what is sometimes called “The Springs” that will supplement local funds for the airport’s upcoming Concourse Modernization project. With a focus on traveler comfort and convenience, many upgrades in the airport’s plan involve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns that will include hearing loops as an integral part of the terminals public address system.
In a telephone interview, Jeremy Owens, Airport Operations Manager, said the plan is to install loops at each of the airport’s boarding gates as part of a complete remodel of the terminal concourse that will include hold rooms, restrooms, ceilings, windows, elevators, flooring, the PA system, and more. The modernization will increase terminal sustainability and improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
On March 1 the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Greg Phillips, Director of Aviation as saying, “The existing terminal opened in 1994 and has served our travelers well through the years, but it’s time and we’re excited for these upgrades. We want to continue to improve our travelers’ experience and ensure their time at COS is stress-free, comfortable, and supports their travel needs.” The improvements are intended to increase the airport’s passenger capacity in the concourse along with increased traffic levels that will result.
Colorado Springs joins twenty other US cities that have adopted this hard of hearing preferred technology as a means of better serving hard of hearing travelers. Abroad, such technology is present in all major European airports including Moscow’s three international airports. All major airports in Australia feature hearing loops as do other terminals throughout Australasia. International travelers will also find the technology in rail, bus and ferry travel.
_
About Loop New Mexico
Loop New Mexico was originally founded by the Albuquerque chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America and was the recipient of the very first HLAA Get in the Hearing Loop Award. It was later spun off as a free standing information clearinghouse focused on hearing loop and other assistive listening technology. In addition to the www.LoopNM.com website, LNM distributes a quarterly In the Loop newsletter devoted to news of hearing loops and other matters of interest to it 2500 email and online readers.
.
Source: Loop New Mexico
