Search Content

According to statistics from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), each year approximately 17% of all work zone fatalities are pedestrians. People who are visually impaired often encounter physical and information barriers that limit their accessibility and mobility. A survey was conducted among 10 visually impaired participants as a starting point to understand their challenges and what types of information are helpful in providing bypass or routing instructions to them around work zones. The survey results were incorporated into development of guiding documents in determining information elements that are essential and useful for providing routing instructions to the visually impaired around work zones. Building on our previous efforts to provide geometry and signal timing to the visually impaired at signalized intersections, a smartphone-based navigation system was developed and integrated with navigational audible information to alert pedestrians at decision points prior to their arrival at a work zone. The recommended message elements from survey results were implemented in a smartphone app that uses GPS and Bluetooth technologies to determine a user's location. When a work zone is detected, the smartphone will vibrate to alert users and the app will then announce a corresponding audible message to users. The visually impaired users can perform a single tap on the smartphone to repeat the messages, if needed. Functionality testing and system validation of the smartphone app were performed by attaching four Bluetooth beacons to light posts near a construction site in St. Paul, MN. Additional research is needed to conduct experiments with visually impaired users and evaluate system reliability and usefulness.

This report proposes and evaluates two ideas for improving efficiency and service quality of paratransit operations. For carrying out this analysis, the authors use data from Metro Mobility, the agency responsible for providing ADA-mandated transportation services in the Twin Cities. However, the underlying principles, mathematical models, and algorithms are applicable to a variety of similar transportation operations in urban and rural areas. The first idea is to re-optimize routes developed by Metro Mobility's route-building software (a commercial product named Trapeze) at the end of each day of booking operations to reduce the total time it takes to serve booked trips. The second idea evaluates the selective use of non-dedicated vehicles and service providers (e.g. taxi services) for lowering operational costs. Mathematical models and computer algorithms are developed for each of these approaches. These are then tested on actual operational data obtained from Metro Mobility. The report shows that a conservative estimate of savings from re-optimization would be 5% of Metro Mobility's operating costs. Additional savings from the use of taxi service would be in the hundreds of dollars per day. The actual magnitude of these savings would depend on the proportion of customers who agree to travel by taxi.

An increasing number of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) have been installed at new or upgraded intersections to assist people with vision impairment to navigate streets. For un-signalized intersections and intersections without APS; people with vision impairment have to rely on their own orientation and mobility skills to gather necessary information to navigate to their destinations. Previously; a smartphone-based accessible pedestrian system was developed to support wayfinding and navigation for people with vision impairment at both signalized and un-signalized intersections. A digital map was also created to support the wayfinding app. This system allows a visually impaired pedestrian to receive signal timing and intersection geometry information from a smartphone app for wayfinding assistance. A beacon using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology helps to identify a pedestrian's location when he or she travels in a GPS-unfriendly environment. A network of Bluetooth beacons ensures that correct traffic information is provided to the visually impaired at the right location. This project leverages the previous work by installing the system at a number of intersections in downtown Stillwater; Minnesota; where MnDOT operates the signalized intersections. In this study; researchers interface with the traffic controllers to broadcast traffic signal phasing and timing (SPaT) information through a secured and private wireless network for visually impaired users. The aim is to test the smartphone-based accessible system and evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of the system in supporting wayfinding and navigation while the visually impaired travel through signalized and un-signalized intersections.

This Transportation Research Synthesis presents the results of a limited literature search and surveys of state transportation agencies and advocacy and service organizations to determine effective approaches to communicate with individuals with visual impairment and to engage them in transportation project decision-making.

To assist MnDOT in the development of curriculum modules and other ADA compliance training materials, CTC & Associates conducted a state of the practice review of relevant reference and training materials from federal agencies, advocacy groups and other state DOTs. CTC's findings are presented in three categories: Reference Materials, Training Materials and State DOT Current Practices.

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that communities with federally subsidized public transit systems must offer on-demand paratransit services for people with disabilities. Paratransit services must match the hours of operation of public transit, minimize service denials because of capacity shortages and maintain additional service quality measures beyond those applicable to public transit such as on-time pickups and drop-offs and acceptable ride times. Metro Mobility, the agency that provides paratransit services to the Twin Cities area through two contractors (Laidlaw and Transit Team), is also anticipating an additional same-day service requirement by the Federal Transit Authority.

This Technical Summary pertains to report 2020-28, Deploy and Test a Smartphone-Based Accessible Traffic Information System for the Visually Impaired.

This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2014-12, “Development of a Navigation System Using Smartphone and Bluetooth Technologies to Help the Visually Impaired Navigate Work Zones Safely,” published February 2014. State TPAR guidelines, including audible message guidelines, are available at http://www.mndot.gov/trafficeng/workzone/tpar.html.