HOUSTON – The city of Houston is improving safety and access to help people with vision loss cross street intersections in the downtown area.
Houston Public Works has installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) with audible sounds, vibrations and messages to assist people crossing an intersection. The audio alerts commuters when the “walk” interval begins and ends.
The signal installations will be complete in time for the National Federation of the Blind for its 2023 National Convention in downtown Houston this July. The event is considered one of the largest gatherings of people who are blind in the world.
Houston Public Works is also working to add braille messaging to the Accessible Pedestrian Signals in the future.
Signs and push buttons are placed along traffic signal poles at intersections surrounding the George R. Brown Convention Center (see map below). Accessible Pedestrian Signals were previously located near the METRORail along Main Street.
Features of accessible push buttons:
- Audible beeping while “walk” sign is activated
- Push buttons vibrate when “walk” sign is activated
- Tactile arrows to indicate direction of crosswalk
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