A groundbreaking new technology aimed at making every inch of the transit network accessible to people with visual impairments could also help dismantle one of the steepest barriers that many Americans face when they first try to use a shared mode: navigating the labyrinthine underground landscapes that GPS can’t reach. And it’s coming to U.S. transit networks.
At a recent event, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in D.C. announced that it would become the first in the U.S. to offer free, turn-by-turn audio directions throughout 25 of its most heavily utilized underground subway stations and over 1,000 bus stops, with the remaining stations to be mapped in mid-2023. The company behind the app, London-based navigation company Waymap, is also reportedly in talks with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to bring a similar pilot there in the fall, and is receiving even more interest in Europe.
Have more mobility news that we should be reading and sharing? Let us know! Reach out to Sage Kashner (kashner@ctaa.org).
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