Creates a pilot program in Suffolk county for the use of accessible pedestrian-control signals; appropriation

BILL NUMBER:A9235

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating a pilot program in Suffolk county for the use of accessible pedestrian-control signals; providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof; and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill establishes a pilot program in Suffolk county to evaluate the use of accessible pedestrian non-visual or audible control signals on all county roads; establishes an appropriation for such pilot program in the amount of four million dollars ($4,000,000).

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 requires the Suffolk county superintendent of highways to conduct a pilot program designed to evaluate the use of accessible pedestrian control signals; defines accessible pedestrian control signal as a device that communicates to pedestrians in a non-visual format; requires that the pilot program shall provide each crosswalk located on a county road within Suffolk county with an accessible pedestrian control signal; provides that after five years of the effective date, the superintendent of highways shall report on the results of the program to the Governor, the temporary president of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly.

Section 2 appropriates four million dollars ($4,000,000) to be made available for the purpose of carrying out the pilot program.

Section 3 provides that the act shall take effect 120 days after it has become a law and shall expire 5 years after the effective date.

Justification

Visually impaired persons are challenged by day-to-day activities throughout their entire lives. Most current crosswalks do not provide assistance to the visually impaired. Those crosswalks that provide audible assistance are not equipped with the technology to assist a visually impaired person with the knowledge of which street corner they are standing on and what other streets are surrounding them. With an audible response at a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal has the ability to tell a visually impaired person where they currently are, and what options they have for their destination. Seeing-eye dogs are unable to provide their owner with such details.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

This bill would require a $4,000,000 appropriation for the execution of the pilot program.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 120 days after it has become law.