Photo by toronto.ca
The City of Toronto launched a new section to their website recently which focuses on accessibility in the streets of Toronto and has an entire page dedicated to Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI). We mentioned in our last blog post "New AODA Layws on TWSI’s in Effect" that TSWI installations are now standard regulation for all new and re-developed sloped pedestrian sidewalks in the city, and this new web page is a great resource for information about TWSI.
New legislation around TWSI's now in effect
New accessibility standards for public spaces, which includes new laws on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI's) are now in effect. To ensure your company is compliant, contact Crozier Enterprises' TWSI Division to get an understanding of the legislation and to receive an immediate quote on TWSI's.
TWSI is the proud supplier of Neenah Foundry cast iron detectable warning plates, which exceed the standard and are in regulatory compliance with both the AODA and the American Disability Act (ADA).
Effective January 2016, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), under Part IV.1 of Reg 191/11 states that TWSI’s (also known as Detectable Warning Plates) are mandatory on all new and repaired depressed curb sidewalks in Ontario.
Click on the City of Toronto logo below to see additional details on the new standard together with the most recent City of Toronto's 2018 TWSI Specifications & Construction Standards
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Cast iron Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI's) durable for Canadian winters
Winter is coming. And there’s no avoiding it. It might still be sunny and fairly warm outside but as the last leaves fall, a chill will creep across the ground and soon there will be snow.
Number one priority when winter hits- keeping the roads safe. This means winter tires and snowplows. As far as pedestrians with vision loss, they rely on the durability of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI's) to withstand harsh weather conditions and safely alert them of upcoming street crossings.
While plastic plates have been shown to crack over time from the impact of snowplows (see example below of a plastic plate with obvious signs of wear), Neenah Foundry’s TWSI’s are made from cast iron materials that don’t wear, peel or crack.
How tactile walking surface indicators make streets safer
According to the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB), half a million Canadians are living with vision loss, with more than 50,000 more losing their sight every year. TWSI's play an instrumental role in improving accessibility.
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators(TWSI) act as a warning device to alert those with visual impairments of upcoming street crossings. As shown above, the plates consist of uniform sized, spaced domes installed on depressed ramps at public sidewalk crossings.
Neenah Foundry Tactile Walking Surface Indicators provide alerts for secure crossing
The life of a pedestrian trying to navigate through the city can prove challenging at times. On any given day, a simple walk can include jumping over potholes, dodging construction materials and avoiding cars that seem to come out of nowhere. For a person with vision loss, the list of potential hazards is even longer.
Landmark by Crozier, a Canadian supplier for high end site furnishings and construction castings, recognizes this need for increased safety measures. The Landmark team are actively providing Neenah Foundry’s Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI’s) to municipalities across Ontario to better alert those with visual impairments of upcoming street crossings. These textured TWSI’s, sometimes referred to as Detectable Warning Plates (DWP’s), have been instrumental in notifying people with vision loss of any upcoming dangers prior to stepping out on the street.
10 Reasons to Choose Neenah Foundry TWSI's
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI) play a crucial role in better alerting those with visual impairments of upcoming street crossings and potential hazards. With more and more of these textured warning plates popping up across Ontario, it's clear that communities are committed to making their streets safer for people with vision loss.
Pedestrians and motorists will soon see an influx of TWSI’s in the year ahead. Effective January 2016, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) states that TWSI’s, also referred to as Detectable Warning Plates (DWP), will be mandatory on all new and repaired depressed curb sidewalks in Ontario.
Cast iron recommended for City of Toronto standard
Results are in after a year-long Pilot Project to determine which four materials of tactile walking surface indicators (TWSI)’s would be recommended as the new City of Toronto standard. And the winner is- cast iron!
In order to comply with the Design of Public Space Standards (Part IV.1 of Ontario Regulation 191/11, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), which included new legislative requirements to have TWSI’s at the bottom of curb ramps and depressed curbs to provide alerts for those with vision loss, the City of Toronto started a Pilot Project to best decide what standard they should adopt for TWSI’s on their sidewalk surfaces.
