Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Traffic signal for blind OK'd for Ketchum


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

New Ketchum resident Anya Torres is ready to testify that one person can make a difference.

The 60-year-old has single-handedly moved the Idaho Transportation Department to buy and install in Ketchum the state's first traffic signal designed especially for blind pedestrians.

Torres is legally blind, although she can see shadows.

A chiropractor, who with her husband, Michael, is moving from Santa Clara to live in the River Run area, she triggered the ITD's decision last year while in Ketchum.

"I found it difficult," she said, to navigate the intersection at Main Street and Sun Valley Road because of her blindness.

She called Ketchum City Manager Ron LeBlanc, who directed her to the ITD, since Main Street is part of state Highway 75.

That led her to Bruce Christiansen, the ITD's 4th District traffic engineer, who in time came up with the unique solution which is in use in several California communities.

The traffic signal system ITD will install, Christiansen explained, has various modes specifically for blind pedestrians.

He said one mode is what is known as vibrotactile—an arrow symbol that can be felt by a user at a curbside box and provides a signal to cross the street.

Another mode is a beep tone instructing pedestrians when to cross. And a third mode provides a recorded verbal instruction.

The complete system will cost about $8,400, with installation sometime this year, he said.

New visual pedestrian crossing signals also will be installed in Ketchum on Main Street at the intersections of First and Fifth streets.

ITD is also providing new intersection signal systems in Hailey, as well.

New light signals will provide left-turns at Bullion and Main streets for autos while oncoming traffic stops, and a companion light system for pedestrians with a flashing hand symbol and numerical countdown providing crossing time while all traffic is stopped.

That system, Christiansen said, would cost about $19,000 and is scheduled for installation this month.




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