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gov
 Pedestrian Signal access

ACCOMMODATING
PEDESTRIANS AT SIGNALIZED
INTERSECTIONS
Transportation Research Board
January 11, 2009

Dennis Cannon
U. S. Access Board
 Requirement
• (a) Design and construction. Each facility or part of a facility
constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity shall be
designed and constructed in such manner that the facility or part of
the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with
disabilities, if the construction was commenced after January 26,
1992.
• (b) Alteration. Each facility or part of a facility altered by, on behalf
of, or for the use of a public entity in a manner that affects or could
affect the usability of the facility or part of the facility shall, to the
maximum extent feasible, be altered in such manner that the altered
portion of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by
individuals with disabilities, if the alteration was commenced after
January 26, 1992. [28 CFR 35.151]
 Standards
• (c) Accessibility standards. Design, construction, or alteration of
facilities in conformance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility
Standards (UFAS) … or with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) …
shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this section ….
Departures from particular requirements of either standard by the
use of other methods shall be permitted when it is clearly evident
that equivalent access to the facility or part of the facility is thereby
provided.

• That is, UFAS, ADAAG or “other equivalent method”

 PROWAG
• Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines were
developed to “translate” ADAAG for rights-of-way
(http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/draft.htm)
• PROWAG is an “other equivalent method” for
accessibility where ADAAG doesn’t work
• PROWAG covers elements, such as signals, not found
on building sites
• FHWA says use PROWAG is “best practice”
(http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/prwaa.ht
m)
 Elements
• Clear space

• Pushbutton size

• Pushbutton reach

• Operation (e.g., force)

• Timing
Clear Space
R402.2 Surface
Characteristics.
Surfaces of clear spaces
shall comply with R301.5
and shall have a slope
and cross slope of 2
percent maximum.

R402.3 Size. The clear

space shall be 760 mm
(30 in) minimum by 1220
mm (48 in) minimum.
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Size
R306.3.3 Size and
Contrast. Pedestrian
pushbuttons shall be a
minimum of 0.5 cm (2 in)
across in one dimension
and shall contrast
visually with their
housing or mounting.
Size Does Matter
 Reach
• R404.2 Forward Reach.
• R404.2.1 Unobstructed. Where a forward reach is unobstructed,
the high forward reach shall be 1220 mm (48 in) maximum and the
low forward reach shall be 380 mm (15 in) minimum above the finish
surface.
• R404.3 Side Reach.
• R404.3.1 Unobstructed. Where a clear space allows a parallel
approach to an element and the side reach is unobstructed, the high
side reach shall be 1220 mm (48 in) maximum and the low side
reach shall be 380 mm (15 in) minimum above the finish surface. An
obstruction shall be permitted between the clear space and the
element where the depth of the obstruction is 255 mm (10 in)
maximum.
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One possible solution
 Operation
• R405.4 Operation. Operable parts shall be operable with one hand
and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
The force required to activate operable parts shall be 22 N (5 lbs)
maximum.
Timing
R305.3 Pedestrian
Signal Phase Timing.
All pedestrian signal
phase timing shall be
calculated using a
pedestrian walk speed of
1.1 m/s (3.5 ft/s)
maximum. The
crosswalk distance used
in calculating pedestrian
signal phase timing shall
include the entire length
of the crosswalk.
If you live long enough…
 Thank You
Dennis Cannon
Transportation Accessibility Specialist
U. S. Access Board
(202) 272-0015
cannon@access-board.gov
www.access-board.gov

row@access-board.gov