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Device requirements in new construction

Draft guidelines
Draft Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines were published on June 17, 2002. While the guidelines have not been published as a final rule, they provide the most comprehensive guidance available at this time.

APS Characteristics
The Draft Guidelines for new construction and reconstruction require the following:
  • APS devices integral with the pushbutton
  • Audible and vibrotactile indications of the Walk interval
  • WALK indication by tone or voice (speech)
  • Pushbutton locator tone where there are pushbuttons
  • Tactile and visual signs on the face of the device or its housing
  • Signs are to include a tactile arrow indicating the crosswalk direction and the name of the street.
Optional features
The Draft Guidelines state that an extended button press shall be permitted to activate additional features. However, no information is provided which specifies what those features may include.

PROWAAC recommended the following possible responses to an extended button press:
  • "sound beaconing by increasing the volume of the WALK tone and the associated locator tone for one signal cycle, so a blind pedestrian might be able to use the sound from the opposite side of the street to provide alignment information;
  • sound beaconing by alternating the audible WALK signal back and forth from one end of the crosswalk to the other;
  • providing extended crossing time; and
  • providing a voice message with the street names at the intersection." (PROWAAC X02.5.2.3 Optional Features)

 

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