Chicago’s accessible pedestrian signal rollout offers lessons for London’s street accessibility programme

Chicago’s accessible pedestrian signal rollout has exceeded court-ordered installation targets, but a new report from inspectors warns that the system still has technical gaps that affect safety for blind and low-vision pedestrians. The findings come as London’s Transport for London continues its own multi-year programme to equip signalised crossings with audible and tactile indicators, raising questions about how the two cities compare in delivering truly usable street infrastructure.

The report, published by Smart Cities Dive and based on city inspector findings, shows that Chicago has met or surpassed the number of accessible pedestrian signals required under a 2023 court settlement. The city’s Department of Transportation has installed the devices at hundreds of intersections, making crossings more navigable for people with visual impairments. However, inspectors found that the signals themselves are not always reliable. Concerns include inconsistent volume levels on audible tones, poorly positioned tactile arrows, and signals that fail to activate when the pedestrian button is pressed. The report notes that blind and low-vision pedestrians still face unpredictable crossing conditions, especially at complex junctions where multiple signal phases are involved.

Por que importa

The court order that drove Chicago’s installation pace was the result of a lawsuit brought by disability rights groups. The settlement required the city to reach a specific number of APS-equipped crossings by a set deadline. Chicago surpassed that target, but the technical gaps underscore the difference between meeting a quantity target and delivering a safe, intuitive system. Inspectors recommended real-time monitoring, standardised volume calibration, and better integration with the city’s traffic signal network.

London’s accessible pedestrian signal programme has been running for more than a decade, but progress has been gradual. TfL has committed to installing APS at all signalised crossings on the Transport for London Road Network, which includes major arterial routes, and at many borough-controlled junctions as part of local transport plans. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy, published in 2018, set a goal of making London’s streets fully accessible, with pedestrian crossings as a priority. Advocacy groups such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Guide Dogs have repeatedly called for faster installation and better maintenance of existing signals.

Contexto

The differences between the two cities’ approaches are instructive. Chicago’s programme was driven by a court order and a fixed deadline, which forced rapid installation. London’s approach has been policy-led, embedded in broader transport strategies, but without a single enforceable target. The Chicago report suggests that even when quantity targets are met, usability can lag. London’s longer timeline may allow for more iterative design, but it also means that many crossings remain without APS for years.

Key facts
| City | Target type | Installation status | Key findings |
|——|————-|——————-|————–|
| Chicago | Court-ordered quantitative target | Exceeded target | Technical gaps in volume, positioning, activation reliability |
| London | Policy-led (Mayor’s Transport Strategy) | Ongoing, phased rollout | No specific numerical target; advocacy groups call for faster progress |

The technical gaps identified in Chicago are not unique. In London, street audits by disability organisations have found similar issues: audible signals that are too quiet in busy traffic, tactile arrows that are misaligned after road resurfacing, and push-button units that are difficult to locate. TfL has introduced a standard specification for APS equipment, but consistency across borough-managed crossings remains a challenge. The lack of a single centralised monitoring system means that faults are often reported by pedestrians rather than detected automatically.

For London’s built-environment professionals and transport planners, the Chicago report reinforces the importance of post-installation inspection and user feedback loops. Meeting a target number of installations does not guarantee that a crossing is usable. The report also highlights the value of a clear legal or regulatory driver: Chicago’s court order created a measurable deadline, whereas London’s policy commitments rely on funding cycles and political priorities.

The impact on the street level is direct. A blind person navigating a crossing with a poorly calibrated APS may have to rely on traffic sounds or assistance from strangers, defeating the purpose of the device. For a city like London, where pedestrian flows are dense and crossings are frequent, even small usability gaps can compound into significant barriers.

The Chicago report did not disclose the full list of intersections inspected or the exact number of signals that failed the usability checks. The city has committed to addressing the issues, but no timeline for rectification has been published. London’s programme, meanwhile, continues to expand, with TfL aiming to equip all traffic signals on its network by the end of the decade, subject to funding.

Source: Smart Cities Dive, “Accessible pedestrian signal rollout in Chicago ahead of targets, but technical gaps persist: report”, 29 July 2026. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/accessible-pedestrian-signal-rollout-chicago/826452/

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