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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.