Pedestrians in Foster City have a new reason to feel safe when crossing the street. On November 25, 2008, audible pedestrian signals were installed at the intersection of Beach Park and Edgewater Boulevards.

The Traffic Review Committee recommended the installation of the audible pedestrian signal at this busy Foster City intersection after being approached on the subject by a young Foster City resident who lives with low vision. This intersection was chosen for the pilot program because of its traffic volume, mass transit access and proximity to an elementary school and a shopping center.

Unlike other audible systems, this model utilizes a human voice to assist individuals with limited vision to safely cross streets by identifying when the light changes on each street. In addition to positive feedback from pedestrians with limited vision, the crossing guards and students at Foster City school have already expressed excitement about the clear information provided by the units.

The City considers this a pilot installation and may recommend the audible signals at other intersections in the future, based on the success of the operation of this equipment.

The new Navigator Accessible Pedestrian Signal by Polara Engineering Inc. provides a vibro-tactile Americans With Disabilities Act compliant 2" push button with a raised directional arrow and audible sounds during all pedestrian cycles. Instructions and street identifiers are written and provided in Braille. All other features of the signalized intersection remain the same.

For more information about Accessible Pedestrian Signals in Foster City, contact Leah Edwards, Public Works Senior Engineering Technician at ledwards@fostercity.org or 650-286-3277.