Meeting the Needs of All Pedestrians

1. Meeting the Needs of All Pedestrians APS in your community

2. Information at the Crosswalk for all Pedestrians! By giving signal information in multiple and alternative formats at the crosswalk, pedestrians are more likely to make better decisions about when to start crossing the street and what they should do once in the crosswalk.

3. What is an Accessible Pedestrian Signal or APS? APS are designed to make crosswalks on intersections more accessible for all pedestrians and especially the visually impaired. APS can be provided with numerous features and options. An Accessible Pedestrian Signal that meets the current requirements in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices would have the following features and operate in the following manner.

4. Locate Tone When you approach an intersection where an APS is installed, the first thing you will notice when you come to within 6 to 12 feet from a push button, you will hear a beeping sound emanating from the push button. This sound is called the “Locate Tone” and it sounds once per second. It is intended to direct a visually impaired pedestrian to the push button. The volume of this sound should typically be low and only heard within 6to 12 feet of the pole

5. Tactile Arrow Button Once you locate the push button, you will find the button has a tactile raised arrow that should point into the direction of the crosswalk. Each time the button is pushed, you should immediately hear the word “Wait”.

6. Pre-Walk Information Always press the button in and hold it in until you hear a click or a voice message. Your city may have programmed in custom information about the intersection into the unit. • Custom messages programmed with the street names -If you push and hold the button in, you may hear a voice message that gives the name of street being crossed for that button as well as the adjacent cross street. • Direction of Travel – The Direction of Travel may also be programmed in.

7. Braille If the sign has been stamped with Braille, you will find the name of the street you will be crossing stamped in Braille on the sign above the push button.

8. Walk Indication When the pedestrian walk signal turns on, the arrow push button will vibrate giving a visually and hearing impaired pedestrian tactile notification that the walk sign is on. • Audible Sounds for Walk Indication • Rapid Tick • Speech Walk Message This sound typically plays for the entire time the walk signal is on. However, if the walk light stays on for a long period of time, the walk sound can be limited in how long it plays.

9. Pedestrian Clearance Once the pedestrian signal changes from Walk to flashing Don’t Walk (clearance phase), the button will stop vibrating and the sound will change back to one of the following: The locate tone Different sound or different sound repetition Verbal countdown of the seconds remaining in the clearance phase

10. Don’t Walk Once the pedestrian signal changes from the flashing Don’t Walk to solid Don’t Walk, the sound reverts back to the locate tone played once per second. Additional ways to get louder audible sounds: Extended push volume boost for one walk and clearance cycle Extended push muting of all sounds except for the crosswalk activated by the extended push *The agency must program the units for either of these options

11. Other Audible Indications Emergency Vehicle Pre-Emption Rail Pre-Emption

12. Be Careful out there! Even with additional information…pay attention! Always be aware of the Cars! Right Hand turners are not looking for pedestrians Red light runners are always a possible hazard

13. Meeting the Needs of All Pedestrians