Summary of Recommended Features and Installation Practice
APS installation in new construction
Recommended features
- Rapid tick WALK indication, no more than 2–5dBA above ambient sound
- Vibrotactile WALK indication
- Speaker and vibrotactile indication located at pushbutton
- Pushbutton locator tone
- Tactile arrow on each device aligned in direction of travel on the crosswalk
Recommended installation
- Precise location of the APS is very important to prevent ambiguity about which crosswalk is being signaled
- APS should be reachable from the level landing of the curb ramp for the crossing or from a level surface with an accessible path to the ramp (MUTCD Section 4E.08 and Proposed and Draft PROWAG)
- APS should be within 5 feet of the crosswalk line furthest from the center of the intersection and within 10 feet of the curb (MUTCD Section 4E.08)
- Tactile arrow shall be aligned with parallel to the direction of travel on the crosswalk (MUTCD Section 4E.12, P1)
- Two APS on the same corner should be a minimum of 3 m (10 ft) apart (MUTCD Section 4E.07, P7)
- Pushbutton required to be located within reach range for wheelchair users (Proposed PROWAG, R406)
APS installation at existing locations (not new construction)
New construction guidelines should be met to the maximum extent feasible.
- Pushbutton-integrated APS must be located close to the crosswalk (see Optimal APS Location)
- If it is not possible to mount two APS on the same corner a minimum of 10 feet apart, an APS providing a speech message during the walk interval, as well as a pushbutton information message, is required (MUTCD Section 4E.10, P3)
- If a pedhead-mounted APS speaker is used, it must be above the waiting location of the crosswalk being signaled (see Pedhead-mounted speakers)
Configuration-specific recommendations
Below are listed some specific situations in which there are installation recommendations in addition to the ones listed above for new construction and existing construction. The recommendations listed for each situation below are only the areas where they differ from the general recommendations listed above. Unless otherwise specified, all other above recommendations apply to each situation.
APS installations where beaconing is needed
APS at intersections where beaconing is needed should have certain features and installation, whether they are used in connection with pretimed or actuated signals.
- Loud locator tone during the flashing DONT WALK of the subsequent pedestrian phase only, in response to an extended button press, from speakers at the pushbutton or pedestrian signal head. If mounted high, speakers should be aimed diagonally down and out into the center of crosswalk indicated by that APS. If possible, beaconing sound should come from the far side speaker only (this requires special equipment and wiring).
- Sound should be increased only for the requested crosswalk
- Location of all speaker components of the APS within the width of the crosswalk is essential, as users will direct their travel toward the source of the sound (see Figures 6-46 through 6-51 for example drawings)
APS at pretimed intersections where beaconing is not needed (not new construction)
- If pushbutton-integrated APS cannot be located at the pedestrian waiting area, pedhead-mounted APS (which do not provide vibrotactile indications) must be above the waiting location of the crosswalk being signaled and should be aimed down toward the waiting location
Figure 6-52. Example of pushbutton information messages and speech WALK messages for two APS located on the same pole
APS at corners where two pushbuttons must be mounted on the same pole (not new construction)
- Speech WALK indication, two to five dBA above ambient sound
- Pushbutton information message to provide intersection and crosswalk identification information
- Speech messages should follow the requirements for wording in paragraphs 17 – 20 of Section 4E.11 of the MUTCD, and the APS should be positioned within 10 feet of the curb (see Figures 6-39, 6-40, 6-41, 6-47, and 6-48)
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