Bus passengers who are blind or partially sighted will greatly benefit from the installation of braille signs with helpful information on every bus stop in Metro Vancouver.

TransLink announced today it is moving forward with its braille sign installation project on the pole and posts of 8,400 bus stops served by its bus routes.

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The braille bus stop signs provide information written in both Unified English Braille and raised tactile letters, bus stop ID numbers, bus routes serving that particular bus stop, bay or bus stop indicators, and TransLink’s customer information phone number.

Additionally, the public transit authority will also install tactile walking surface indicators at every bus stop on property that TransLink owns or leases, such as bus exchanges. Such raised surfaces on the ground help guide passengers who are blind or partially sighted towards the front door of the bus.

“These braille signs and walking surface indicators will help so many people in the community more independently navigate our transit system,” said  TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a statement.

“Accessibility is imperative to a quality transit system, and I am very proud of this major step forward for our customers who are blind or partially sighted.”

TransLink braille sign design for bus stops. (TransLink)

TransLink braille sign design for bus stops. (TransLink)

The braille sign installation project begins today and is scheduled to reach completion by the end of 2022. Upon full completion, TransLink will be the first public transit system in Canada to install braille signs across its entire bus network.

TransLink developed its braille sign and tactile walking surface indicators project by consulting with accessibility groups.

With a budgeted cost of $7 million, the project was approved by TransLink’s board of directors in late 2019.

“The installation of braille signage and tactile walking surface indicators will help improve the accessibility of TransLink bus routes for riders who are blind or partially sighted,” said Robert Gaunt, the executive director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

“We commend TransLink for making this important investment and for their ongoing commitment to improving the overall accessibility of Metro Vancouver’s public transportation system.”

TransLink’s recently installed bus stop posts for all RapidBus routes and the new LCD screen posts at UBC bus exchange also feature real-time text-to-audio information capability with the push of a button.

TransLink braille sign design for bus stops. (TransLink)

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• TransLink to spend $7 million on new bus stop tactile strips and braille signs
• TransLink's new LCD real-time next bus screens turned on at UBC loop (PHOTOS)
• $79 million upgrade of SkyTrain's digital signs, speakers, and CCTV now complete
• New SkyTrain car design includes LCD screens, flex space (PHOTOS)
• TransLink riders will be able to tap debit cards on the Compass system