State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HR0966

 
                                              LRB9216966RHrhA

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Due to such factors as urban sprawl,  wider  and
 3    more  dangerous  streets,  and greater traffic volume, it has
 4    become increasingly difficult for all pedestrians,  including
 5    those  with  disabilities,  to  travel throughout communities
 6    across Illinois; and

 7        WHEREAS, Accessible Pedestrian Signals  can  augment  the
 8    use  of  sound  judgement  and  defensive  traveling  by  all
 9    pedestrians,  including those with disabilities, helping them
10    to cross streets more safely; and

11        WHEREAS, Accessible  Pedestrians  Signal  technology  has
12    been  in  use  for  some time in such Illinois communities as
13    Peoria, providing valuable assistance to those who choose  to
14    use it to aid in crossing streets; and

15        WHEREAS,  Today's Accessible Pedestrian Signal technology
16    has advanced to the point that it is  no  more  obtrusive  to
17    surrounding residents than traffic and other noises; and

18        WHEREAS,  On  April  27,  2001,  staff  from the Illinois
19    Department of Transportation expressed support for installing
20    Accessible Pedestrian Signals in discussions with members  of
21    the  Illinois  Council of the Blind, but wanted to do so only
22    after the standards for their installation were available  in
23    the  Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) issued
24    by the Federal Highway Administration; and

25        WHEREAS, These standards are now available,  having  been
26    published in the MUTCD in January 2002; and

27        WHEREAS,  The  cost  for installing Accessible Pedestrian
28    Signals is about $4,000 per intersection; and

29        WHEREAS, 80% of the cost of these signals can be paid for
30    in areas near public transportation facilities  with  Federal
 
                            -2-               LRB9216966RHrhA
 1    dollars   available   pursuant   to   Section   1202  of  the
 2    Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; therefore, be
 3    it

 4        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
 5    NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 6    the  Illinois  Department of Transportation is strongly urged
 7    to immediately implement programs to assist communities  with
 8    the  installation  of Accessible Pedestrian Signals requested
 9    by their residents which comply  with  current  standards  as
10    published  in  the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices;
11    and be it further

12        RESOLVED, That  the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives
13    further  urge  the  Illinois  Department of Transportation to
14    install Accessible Pedestrian Signals at intersections  under
15    its   jurisdiction  that  are  either  newly  constructed  or
16    rehabilitated  where  pedestrian  crossing   facilities   and
17    traffic signals are present; and be it further

18        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
19    presented to the Secretary  of  the  Illinois  Department  of
20    Transportation.

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