Accessible Pedestrian Signal Features New possibilities for access in the US

1. Accessible Pedestrian Signal FeaturesNew possibilities for access in the US Presented by Dan Dawson, Otak Prepared by Janet M. Barlow Accessible Design for the Blind Asheville, North Carolina

2. Accessible Design for the Blind

3. Old types of audible signals = loudspeakers mounted on pedestrian signal heads Accessible Design for the Blind

4. Pedhead-mounted APS problems Too loud – mask vehicular sounds that blind pedestrians want to hear Too loud – bother neighbors Confusing – users have to know what direction they’re facing to figure out which street the signal is indicating Confusing – users not sure if sound is APS or bird (for cuckoo/chirp signals) Accessible Design for the Blind

5. Pushbutton-integrated Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) NOT cuckoos and chirps from pedheads! Accessible Design for the Blind

6. Pushbutton-integrated APS • Continuous pushbutton locator tone with rapid tick WALK indication Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds Accessible Design for the Blind

7. Pushbutton-integrated APS Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds Continuous pushbutton locator tone followed with speech walk indication Accessible Design for the Blind

8. Features • Following slides explain each feature • Speaker at the pushbutton • Pushbutton locator tone • Tactile arrow • Audible and vibrotactile walk indications • Locator tone and walk indication volume adjusts in response to ambient noise levels • Audible beaconing on “request” (by holding pushbutton for over 1 second) Accessible Design for the Blind

9. Speakers at the pushbutton Accessible Design for the Blind

10. Pushbutton Locator Tone Sound comes from the pushbutton Provides information about pushbutton presence and location 1 tone per second, each tone less than 0.15 seconds in duration Volume set to be heard within 6 – 12 feet, or at the building line, whichever is less Different sounds acceptable (click, beep, etc) Accessible Design for the Blind

11. Tactile arrow Raised arrow aligned with direction of travel on the crosswalk controlled by the pushbutton Arrow may be on the pushbutton or on part of the device or sign above the pushbutton Accessible Design for the Blind

12. Tactile Arrow – examples Accessible Design for the Blind

13. Recommended WALK indications A rapid tick WALK indication (sound on slide 6) at locations where the speakers for APS for two different crosswalks are separated by at least 10 feet Vibrotactile WALK indication - arrow (or other surface on pushbutton unit) that vibrates during WALK Accessible Design for the Blind

14. Volume adjustment • Relatively quiet unless audible beaconing is called • Volume only 2-5dB over ambient noise level • Audible within 6 - 12 feet of the pushbutton, or the building line, whichever is closer Accessible Design for the Blind

15. Automatic volume adjustment • Volume of pushbutton locator tone and audible walk indications adjusts in response to ambient sound • Louder when traffic is loud or there is other noise at the intersection • Quiet when traffic or other sounds are quieter (night) Accessible Design for the Blind

16. APS Location is critical • Provide information to the user through proximity to the departure point • Impose less of a cognitive load on pedestrians who are visually impaired • ‘I have pushed the button on my right’ • ‘The WALK indication is coming from my right’ • ‘That sound is for my crosswalk’ • Signal can be quieter due to proximity Accessible Design for the Blind

17. Installation recommendations • Beside the landing of the curb ramp • Separated by more than 10 feet from other APS on corner • MUTCD says within 5 feet of crosswalk line and within 10 feet of the curb Accessible Design for the Blind

18. Installation Example Near departure point Poles separated by more than 10 feet Low sound intensities Vibrotactile available Accessible Design for the Blind

19. Pushbutton within five feet of crosswalk line extended < 5 feet Accessible Design for the Blind

20. Pushbutton within 10 feet of the curb < 10 feet Accessible Design for the Blind

21. Installation example - APS separated by 10 feet (3m) Reachable from level landing, within 10 ft of curb, within 5 feet of crosswalk lines Accessible Design for the Blind

22. Installation example - APS aligned with crosswalk lines Accessible Design for the Blind

23. IF it’s impossible to install two poles 10 feet apart (in alterations, not new construction) • Two APS may be placed on same pole, or closer than 10 feet, BUT additional features are required • Use speech message WALK indication, and, to clarify message, • Pushbutton information message • Tactile arrow Accessible Design for the Blind

24. Pushbutton information message • Pushbutton message to provide intersection information • Plays when pushbutton is pressed for 1 second or more Click on photo to hear message Accessible Design for the Blind

25. Pushbutton information message and speech walk message example Accessible Design for the Blind

26. Audible beaconing Sound from the opposite side of the street is used to provide directional guidance during street crossing Provided after pedestrian holds the pushbutton in for over one second to call the audible beaconing Walk tone and the subsequent locator tone increased in volume during the next signal cycle Accessible Design for the Blind

27. Additional possible feature: Crosswalk Map Tactile map of crosswalk • Symbols (from bottom of picture) for: • down curb, • bike lane • 2 lanes of cars from left • Island • rail line • 2 lanes of cars from right • up curb Accessible Design for the Blind

28. Why APS? Portland/Charlotte Study • Before APS Installation • Began crossing 25%/10% on time • Completed crossing 51%/44% on time • After APS Installation • began crossing 85%/68% on time • Completed crossing 87%/87% on time • Other peds start crossing sooner too

29. For more information, contact: Janet M. Barlow Accessible Design for the Blind 770-317-0611 jmbarlow@accessforblind.org Or US Access Board WWW.access-board.gov