Pedestrian Push Button Upgrades

The General Plan’s 2009 Transportation Element policies recommend installing accessible pedestrian signals, which are pedestrian push buttons upgraded to have audible and tactile/vibrational features, and pedestrian countdown signals at all the signalized intersections in the City of Alameda. This recommendation is based on the Transportation Element guiding policy 4.1.1.f., which states:

“Design transportation facilities to comply with accepted design and safety standards or guidelines including the

use of design features and materials that do not adversely impact on people with disabilities.

1. Upgrade existing pedestrian signals by adding countdown, audible, and tactile/vibrational

signals. New signals should include these as standard features.”

The City’s 2009 Pedestrian Plan lists the signalized intersections that are in need of upgraded pedestrian push buttons under a project category titled “Street Crossings.” In Summer 2011, MTC solicited projects in the San Francisco Bay Area's large urbanized areas for the Federal Transit Administration's New Freedom Program (49 USC

Section 5317). The New Freedom Program provides grants for new capital and operating projects aimed at reducing, beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, transportation barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. The available funding is $3.7 million for the Bay Area's large urbanized areas. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local government authorities, and public transportation operators. A local agency must contribute at least 20 percent of the total project cost. In September 2011, Public Works staff submitted a grant application for federal monies under the New Freedom Program, which is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), to install pedestrian push button upgrades at nine intersections.

In November 2011, MTC informed the Public Works staff that the City of Alameda will receive federal funding in the amount of $150,900 from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) New Freedom Program (Section 5317). This funding will be the federal share of the total project costs, which equal $188,625. The local share is $37,725.  The funding source for the local match is from Alameda County’s Measure B transportation sales tax, which is administered by the Alameda County Transportation Commission.