Pedestrian Pushbutton Accessibility Requirements
Accessibility improvements help make pedestrian facilities usable by people of all ages and capabilities
Pedestrian Pushbutton Accessibility Requirements
Accessibility improvements help make pedestrian facilities usable by people of all ages and capabilities
All pedestrian infrastructure, especially crosswalks, should be accessible to all people, no matter their age or capability. Many aspects of pedestrian infrastructure—for example, curb ramps, pavement markings, crossing times, detectable warnings, and others—are the result of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates that all public environments must accommodate people with disabilities.
Pedestrian push buttons fall under pedestrian infrastructure and must also meet ADA mandates. Both the FHWA’s Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) provide baseline requirements and recommendations for the design features and installation of pedestrian pushbuttons.
Download the diagram below to see the features and requirements of a mid-block crosswalk with a pedestrian pushbutton.
Pushbuttons options for Carmanah’s crosswalk beacon systems
Three different types of pushbuttons are available with our rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and circular flashing crosswalk beacon series products. These pushbuttons vary by cost and by the number of accessibility features they provide.
Pushbuttons with SOME accessibility features
Pushbuttons with ALL accessibility features
Pushbuttons with ALL accessibility features + non-contact operation
- ADA compliant
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Two-tone audible and visual LED confirmation
- No locator tone
- No audible message
- No raised directional arrow
Examples include Polara’s Bulldog, Campbell’s 4 EVR, and others.
- ADA compliant
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Visual LED confirmation
- Locator tone
- Audible voice message: “Yellow lights are flashing”
- Raised directional arrow
Examples include Polara’s iNX and XAV, Campbell’s Guardian, and others.
- ADA compliant
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Visual LED confirmation
- Locator tone
- Audible voice message: “Yellow lights are flashing”
- Raised directional arrow
- Built-in sensor for non-contact actuation
Examples include Polara’s iNX with iDetect (iDX) and Campbell’s Guardian Wave.
Pushbuttons options for Carmanah’s crosswalk beacon systems
Three different types of pushbuttons are available with our R920 rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and R820 circular flashing crosswalk beacon series products. These pushbuttons vary by cost and by the number of accessibility features they provide.
Pushbuttons with SOME accessibility features
A quick-to-install and low cost option, these pushbuttons have most ADA-compliant features.
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Two-tone audible and visual LED confirmation
- No locator tone
- No audible message
- No raised directional arrow
Examples include Polara’s Bulldog, Campbell’s 4 EVR, and others.
Pushbuttons with ALL accessibility features
These pushbuttons have all ADA-compliant features, including a audible locator and voice message.
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Visual LED confirmation
- Locator tone
- Audible voice message: “Yellow lights are flashing”
- Raised directional arrow
Examples include Polara’s iNX and XAV, Campbell’s Guardian, and others.
Pushbuttons with ALL accessibility features + non-contact operation
Their popularity rising throughout the COVID pandemic, these pushbuttons have all ADA-compliant features and can be activated without pressing a button.
- 2-inch pressable surface area
- Less than 2 lbs. required operating force
- Visual LED confirmation
- Locator tone
- Audible voice message: “Yellow lights are flashing”
- Raised directional arrow
- Built-in sensor for non-contact actuation
Examples include Polara’s iNX with iDetect (iDX) and Campbell’s Guardian Wave.
Pedestrian pushbutton accessibility and cost matrix
Previously, pedestrian pushbuttons with all accessibility features had larger power requirements and needed larger solar crosswalk systems in order to operate sustainably. Innovations to the energy efficiency of these pushbuttons now allow for a smaller solar system to sustainably power them—providing fully ADA-accessible crosswalks at a lower overall system cost than before.
Explore the matrix below to see which pushbuttons are available for Carmanah’s solar system sizes.
