$7M approved to install tactile and braille signage at bus stops across Metro Vancouver

TransLinksays it's moving ahead with plans to implement a program to help transit users who are blind or partially sighted.

Beginning in 2020, tactile walking surface indicators (TWSI) and braillle signage will be installed at every bus stop, station and exchange. It's a moveTransLinkclaims will make it the first transit authorityin North Americato provide such accessibility aids.

"We know that a lot of our customers with vision loss rely on transit to get around the region and this is another example of the work we are doing for a very important community," said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond.

The signage willprovide information about each stop, terminal, bay,route and a telephone number for customer service.

Community milestone

TransLink began testing universally accessible bus stopsas part of a pilot projectin 2012, whichincluded the installation of TWSI, tactile and braille at bus stops aroundthe Joyce-Collingwood station.

The transit authority will also be looking at developing a wayfinding technology it hopes willhelp customers navigate the system using data sent directly to a phone or tablet.

"It is important to understand that changing an environment actually lessens the effect of the disability," saidRob Sleath, a member of the Access Transit Users' Advisory Committee.

"Today marks a special milestone for our community."