All over the country, historic post offices have been made accessible. 

The solution for ours is not complicated, as Jack McCreary of DASH noted. And unlike the grotesque, vertical subdivision of the two-story former courtroom in the Customs House, providing access for everyone would not detract from our Romanesque gem.

Recently, the city built accessible ramps on one corner of the post office block. If you can survive that hazardous intersection on Washington in a walker or wheelchair, you can take that new sidewalk to downtown. Great!

But there’s still no accessible route to the post office from Uptown – or the rest of town. Four decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, Port Townsend stubbornly remains an obstacle course for disabled people.

There’s enough right-of-way on Washington to complete the sidewalk and add a bike lane, both of which are especially needed after the installation of two islands that made the street more hazardous for the non-motorized. On Lawrence Street, most corners remain inaccessible, including some that are just a block or two from the farmers market and library. 

Some folks would love to borrow tens of millions for a swimming pool and/or preserve the beloved and, similarly, little-used golf course, even though the city is unable to maintain its basic infrastructure.

Shouldn’t we place a higher priority on simply making our streets useful and safe for everyone who needs them, not just drivers?

Barney Burke
PORT TOWNSEND