Pedestrian Crossing App Enhances Accessibility and Safety

CHANGE

The Signal Operations team tested and deployed a newly available smartphone pedestrian app that supplements the audible cues provided at Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). The app is customizable to a person’s needs, whether they are blind, visually impaired, hard of hearing, or are unable to touch the signal button.

The app tells users which crosswalk signals are nearby. Once users select a direction they wish to cross, the app causes the signal button locator sound to increase so visually impaired users can find the button and the appropriate place to wait to cross the street. In addition, the pedestrian signal can be activated remotely from the smartphone.

Users are provided audible intersection crossing information such as the street they’re crossing, direction they’re traveling, the state of the pedestrian crossing (e.g,. walk, don’t walk, pedestrian clearance), and the time remaining to cross.

This free app is available for IOS and Android. Upgraded audible pedestrian push buttons will be installed at all signalized intersections over the next several years to benefit all users

 (see innovation 20230042).

RESULT

With the PedApp, blind and visually impaired pedestrians can more safely navigate signalized intersections.

Several dozen intersections, including all signalized intersections in Cedar City, have been switched over to the APS standard. Additional intersections are being switched over each week.

From September 2023 to June 2024, UDOT will install APS at the following locations:

• All of 400 South / 500 South in SLC along the light-rail route.

• At 120 additional intersections statewide (using state funds).

UDOT has a federally funded project starting November 2023 that will install APS at another 150 intersections in Region 2 along some of the following state routes:

• State St (US-89)

• 400 South (US-89)

• 300 West (US-89)

• 9000 South (SR-209)

• Redwood Rd (SR-68)

UDOT is seeking input from the public to prioritize APS locations. Please use the Accessible Pedestrian Signal Request - Utah form to let us know where we should focus first.