First in the Nation APS Installation Policy
06.17.08
The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired commends the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority for unanimously adopting the nation’s first policy on the request for installation of accessible pedestrian signals. The LightHouse also applauds the hard work of the Mayor’s Office on Disability who worked tirelessly with the SFMTA staff and leadership to craft these new procedures. Now individuals in San Francisco have a formal procedure for requesting the installation of an accessible pedestrian signal at an intersection they frequently use. Requests can be made by phone, email or postal mail. Read the full APS Installation Policy (DOC).
An Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is a pedestrian pushbutton that communicates when to cross the street in a non-visual manner, such as audible tones, speech messages and vibrating surfaces. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is committed to installing APS at 103 locations citywide by December 31, 2009
The LightHouse, a nonprofit organization, promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of individuals who are blind and visually impaired and is the largest provider of vision rehabilitation services, information and advocacy to the blind and visually impaired of Northern California. Anita S. Aaron has been the Executive Director and CEO of the LightHouse for 18 years and is herself, visually impaired. For more information, call (415) 431-1481.
