Processing a growing backlog of requests, Seattle Department of Transportation must prioritize which intersections will be made accessible.

In Seattle, "the vast majority of pedestrian signals don’t have audible sounds for people who are blind and low vision," reports Heidi Groover, relating the story of a North Seattle resident who is forced to rely on the sound of passing traffic to determine when it's safe to cross the street.
Despite a federal consent decree which requires the installation of more than a thousand curb ramps per year, there's no legislation requiring the addition of Accessible Pedestrian Signals. "More than three quarters of Seattle’s signals do not have such devices," says Groover.
At this point, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has a backlog of requests for the installation of accessible signals throughout the city. Even in new intersection construction or alteration projects, replacement of inaccessible signals is not always required, Groover notes. According to Groover, only 22% of pedestrian signals in Seattle are accessible.
One reason for the lack of accessible signals: they're not cheap. "Although SDOT has not produced a formal study of upgrading signals, at $50,000 each, upgrading all 875 crossings without accessible signals would cost about $44 million," writes Groover.
Groover reports that SDOT consults with "an advisory group of people with disabilities to prioritize the requests."
FULL STORY: Many Seattle intersections lack accessible crossing signals for people with vision or hearing loss

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.

Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
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