TAPCO product makes appearance on ABC tv show

A recent episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Addition" dealt with a visually impaired residents. One of the improvements done on the episode was installation of an ADA-compliant audible pedestrian crosswalk signal controller. Pushing the button activates audible sounds during all pedestrian cycles - sounds during WALK, locating tone available during PEDESTRIAN clearance and DON'T WALK intervals. The system also features custom voice-on-location message with an extended push of the button (the message typically gives information about the intersection and street being crossed).

The system shown is the same system TAPCO sells and supports here in Wisconsin. Please call (1-800-236-0112) TAPCO to order for immediate shipment from stock.

Chapter 4E (Pedestrian Control Features) of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) stipulates detailed specifics and requirements for Accessible Pedestrian Signals.

Section 4E.11 Accessible Pedestrian Signals and Detectors – Walk Indications (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part4/part4e.htm)

Support:
01 Technology that provides different sounds for each non-concurrent signal phase has frequently been found to provide ambiguous information. Research indicates that a rapid tick tone for each crossing coming from accessible pedestrian signal devices on separated poles located close to each crosswalk provides unambiguous information to pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired. Vibrotactile indications provide information to pedestrians who are blind and deaf and are also used by pedestrians who are blind or who have low vision to confirm the walk signal in noisy situations.

Standard:
02 Accessible pedestrian signals shall have both audible and vibrotactile walk indications.

03 Vibrotactile walk indications shall be provided by a tactile arrow on the pushbutton (see Section 4E.12) that vibrates during the walk interval.

04 Accessible pedestrian signals shall have an audible walk indication during the walk interval only. The audible walk indication shall be audible from the beginning of the associated crosswalk.