Common Problems Arising in the Installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Issue 3: Which signal? Speech WALK messages necessary

In numerous installations evaluated in the field, where two APS were mounted on the same pole, installers failed to customize the messages and used the manufacturer’s default message, ‘WALK sign is on’. With two APS located closer than five feet to each other, it is impossible to distinguish which one is sounding based on the location and direction of the sound. Pedestrians standing at one crosswalk could mistake the message of the other crosswalk for their indication to begin crossing.

Remedy: If possible, move the APS to separated poles, each close to the crosswalk it controls and indicates (see Figures 3 & 4). 

In Figure 6, it appears that the required APS separation (10 feet minimum) could have been achieved here by locating stub poles to the left side of the left ramp and the right side of the top crossing. That would have provided much less ambiguous information for pedestrians using these crossings. While a common pole can be made to work, it should not be the selected solution where separated poles are possible. 

Mounting two pushbuttons on the same pole will require ordering and installing -- in the proper device! -- custom speech chips for both the WALK message and the pushbutton information message to identify, by name, the street that the device controls. Some manufacturers provide equipment so jurisdictions can record their own messages. If used, care must be taken in recording messages with proper wording and clear speech.

Speech messages should include the street name and use this tested format: ‘Howard. WALK sign is on to cross Howard’. A pushbutton information message (activated by an extended button push) must say: ‘WAIT to cross Howard at Grand. WAIT.’ (See Figure 6). In addition, the APS should include Braille street name identification and a tactile arrow, carefully aimed to be in line with the crosswalk lines.¹²

^12. MUTCD NPA contains specifications of features required with speech messages in 4E.09.  Federal Register Volume 73, Number 1, pages 312-313, January 2, 2008.