1. Accessible Pedestrian Signal Features New 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
A variety of APS that are available and in use around the US.
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

3. Accessible Design for the Blind
Old types of audible signals = loudspeakers mounted on pedestrian signal heads
Most people are familiar with the pedhead-mounted speakers that have been used in the US since the early 70’s.
4/4/2008
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)
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Accessible Design for the Blind

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

6. Pushbutton-integrated APS
Continuous pushbutton locator tone with rapid tick WALK indication
Sounds attached, click on picture in slide show view to hear them
Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

7. Pushbutton-integrated APS
Continuous pushbutton locator tone followed with speech walk indication
Sounds attached, click on picture in slide show view to hear them
Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

8. Accessible Design for the Blind
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)
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

9. Speakers at the pushbutton
Animation here will bring up circles around speakers on click. Speakers are basically behind the device on the left photo and the sound bounces off the pole the device is mounted on. Next device has similar speaker location. Two on right have speaker openings on the front and side of device. These are not broadcast like the older pedhead-mounted speakers that many will be familiar with. These are intended to be heard at the crosswalk, but not more than 12 feet away.
4/4/2008
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)
The point of the pushbutton locator tone is to let a blind person know the button is there and help them find the button.
Repetition rate, length of tone, and volume are specified in the MUTCD but type of tone can vary
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Accessible Design for the Blind

11. Accessible Design for the Blind
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
Arrow may be used by blind pedestrian to line up for crossing.
Location of APS and arrow may be also used as indicator of appropriate place to begin crossing from.
Alignment of the arrow and device can be a critical detail to consider; if it points out into the intersection, it can provide dangerous and misleading information. The arrow should be aligned with the direction of travel on the crosswalk (ie should point toward to middle or outside line of the crosswalk on the opposite side of the street)
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Accessible Design for the Blind

12. Tactile Arrow – examples
On left, blind pedestrian is standing with his dog guide, with his hand on the arrow while waiting to cross.
In the middle photo, the raised arrow is part of the sign above the pushbutton.
On the right, arrow is on the pushbutton of the APS
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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
There recommendations are a result of research completed during the past five years as part of NCHRP Project 3-62, Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals, and NEI project, Blind Pedestrians’ Access to Street Crossings. These recommendations are in the MUTCD draft published on January 2, The Draft Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines were harmonized with the MUTCD draft, except the Draft PROWAG requires APS when pedestrian signals are installed (MUTCD does not include that as a ‘shall’ statement.)
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Accessible Design for the Blind

14. Accessible Design for the Blind
Volume adjustment
Relatively quiet unless audible beaconing is called
Volume only 2-5dB over ambient noise level
Audible within feet of the pushbutton, or the building line, whichever is closer
This type of APS is not intended to be audible across the street, unless audible beaconing is called. They should not be audible more than 12 feet away. This means that pedestrians who are blind need to go to the crossing point and listen for the locator tone to determine if an APS is installed, then go push the button for WALK. Audible beaconing is called by pushing and holding the pushbutton in for more than a second.
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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)
Response to ambient sound is important aspect of device. Ambient sound response can be adjusted and may need to be adjusted, particularly at locations where there are nearby buildings. It should NOT be set higher than 5 dB over ambient (some manufacturer’s devices allow louder responses).
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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
This type of APS relies on location to provide information and clarify which crosswalk the sound is for. If installed properly, close to the crosswalk it serves, it doesn’t require the blind pedestrian to figure it out. This type of device and installation location has been used for years in Australia, Sweden, Denmark, etc.
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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
Installation close to the crosswalk departure location is essential. Later slides show examples, but here’s a graphic, showing the recommended location of APS in relation to the crosswalks. Draft PROWAG (and ADA) requires the pushbutton to be reachable from a level landing. MUTCD has language specifying that the APS should be within 5 feet of the crosswalk and within 10 feet of the curb. Devices should be separated by more than 10 feet to avoid confusion of sounds.
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

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

19. Pushbutton within five feet of crosswalk line extended
As recommended by the MUTCD 4E.09, pushbutton no more than 5 feet outside the crosswalk line extension.
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Accessible Design for the Blind

20. Pushbutton within 10 feet of the curb
As recommended by the MUTCD 4E.09, pushbutton no more than 10 feet from the curb.
4/4/2008
Accessible Design for the Blind

21. Installation example - APS separated by 10 feet (3m)
Here’s an example of what an installation could look like.
Reachable from level landing, within 10 ft of curb, within 5 feet of crosswalk lines
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Accessible Design for the Blind

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

23. Accessible Design for the Blind
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
IN retrofit, not new construction, it may be necessary to put the two APS closer together. If so, additional features are required, or the APS could be confusing. Need a speech walk message, using specific language for the WALK and a pushbutton information message and a tactile arrow aligned with the direction of travel on the crosswalk.
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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
4/4/2008

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

26. Accessible Design for the Blind
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
Only provided on ‘request’ (holding in pushbutton). Recent research suggests that it might work best to have increased volume only for the locator tone during the flashing don’t walk (broadcast WALK indication can be ambiguous).
4/4/2008
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
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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 Or
US Access Board