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Blind advocacy groups press Essex County to expand audible pedestrian signals; commissioners pledge follow-up
Summary
Members of the National Federation of the Blind and other residents urged Essex County to install audible pedestrian signals and improve building accessibility; commissioners and administration agreed to gather an inventory of existing devices and explore broader deployment and outreach.
Multiple public commenters at the April 3 meeting urged Essex County officials to accelerate installation of audible pedestrian signals (APS) and other accessibility measures at busy intersections and county buildings.
Rick Fox, president of the Northern Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, described APS devices that "beep softly" and provide a synthetic voice to indicate when it is safe to cross. "These devices have been life changing," Fox said, and he requested a list of county intersections that already have APS and a process for notifying local residents when devices are installed.
Other commenters said local intersections remain difficult and at times dangerous…
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