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History and background There are two intersections in downtown and one at Patricia Avenue and Beltrees in Dunedin where APS have been installed at the request of citizens who are blind. The City of Dunedin was awarded the Inspired Leadership Award for 2003 from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) for the APS installations. Process and procedure Requests for APS are received by the City of Dunedin ADA Coordinator and reviewed and recommended by the City Manager appointed ADA Committee. APS were requested by one person who is blind and who has limited hearing in one ear as well. She consulted with an orientation and mobility specialist and requested pushbutton-integrated devices and worked with the engineer on installation details. Funding The intersection modifications were part of a redevelopment project. Description of intersection One of the intersections downtown, Douglas & Main is a fairly small square intersection of two-lane streets with a pushbutton actuated exclusive pedestrian phase. The other intersection downtown at Broadway & Main is a more complex intersection where a very busy state road intersects with the city’s Main Street. The third intersection at Patricia and Beltrees is a T intersection of a minor street with very busy street with a right turn lane. APS type and features Pushbutton-integrated devices from Polara Engineering APS features:
Two APS were mounted on each pole. At one crossing APS were about 15 feet back from the crosswalk location, and approximately 5 feet toward the intersection from the extension of the crosswalk lines. Volume of locator tone and WALK message was quite loud. At the Patricia and Beltrees location, APS were installed on only one crosswalk, to cross the through street, as needed and requested by the person who lived near the intersection.
Installation issues Installers stated that they had difficulties with figuring out the new devices but seemed to work fine after they figured them out. Fluted poles were used in the redesign which made it difficult to align the tactile arrow. Maintenance No maintenance issues have been reported except for need to adjust volume levels. Evaluation Installation caused complaints from patrons of a restaurant/bar on one corner with outdoor seating. Locator tone was loud enough to hear from over 30 feet away. The woman who requested the installation was initially unhappy with some parts of the installation. Original plans included a stub pole close to the crosswalk but that was not installed at first. Even with the signal adjusted to the maximum volume, she was unable to hear the WALK indication when she was standing at the crosswalk location. A stub pole was later installed which allows a reduction in volume of the device and diminishes problems for neighbors as well. Contact Barbara Fidler, ADA Coordinator City of Dunedin 542 Main Street Dunedin, FL 34698 Phone: 727-298-3010 v/tdd Fax: 727-298-3012 E-mail: bfidler@dunedinfl.net Michael Gust, P.E. Division Dir. of Traffic Control City of Dunedin, Traffic Division 822 Lake Haven Road Dunedin, FL 34698 Phone: 727-298-3224 Fax: 727-298-3219 E-mail: mgust@dunedinfl.net top 
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