TACOMA, Wash. — A pilot project in Pierce County is aiming to make public transit more accessible and equitable.
Pierce Transit has installed new signage at some bus stops to help people who are blind or have low vision better navigate the transit system.
As of right now, there are seven new accessible signs that have braille and bold, raised lettering to tell people who are blind or have low vision what bus stop they are at, the zone, the routes, and it gives them a contact phone number if they have questions. All of these signs are currently located at the Commerce Street Station in downtown Tacoma, but the agency plans to expand the signs system-wide.
"It's important for individuals to be able to travel independently on their own,” said Ausha Potts, the ADA Eligibility assistant manager for Pierce Transit.
Potts said that starting last fall, Pierce Transit started outreach with organizations comprised of people with low vision or who are blind. Their input helped shape this pilot.
“They expressed concern in regards to their ability to travel independently out in the community because they were unable to identify our bus stops,” said Potts.
One transit user who has been using Pierce Transit for decades said using public transit can be a scary task for people who are blind.
“It's fairly difficult,” said Tony Hester, a Pierce Transit user who is blind. “I mean, it takes a lot of preparation and a lot of planning, and at times you get lost and disorientated.”
Hester is an advocate for people with disabilities and is one of the people who worked with Pierce Transit to get new accessible signage installed in September.
"Without them before, sometimes you didn't even know if you were at a bus stop or not,” said Hester.
He said these new signs will make a big difference and that they have been needed for a long time.
“I knew it was a necessity in order to be able to travel safely, accurately and independently,” said Hester.
Hester said these seven new accessible signs are a sign of progress, and he hopes for more progress in the near future.
“My goal is to expand this all over the service area and even beyond,” said Hester.
Pierce Transit's pilot project runs through March, and it hopes to get feedback from riders. After the pilot, it plans to expand the new signage system-wide.