Ditto to the complaint above. "Wait. Wait. Wait" might make drivers feel better. But they drive the people waiting for the bus crazy. They do nothing to stop jaywalkers, and might encourage people to flee. And they are going to kill business for the outdoor cafes once the weather improves. Worst of all, the signals now don't actually tell blind people when to walk--only when NOT to walk. WTF?

Wait Wait Wait? Can you actually hear that? I have to be honest, I do hear that part, but the instructions part about crossing, the words are not decipherable. The words are muffled and incomprehensible. The poster is correct, It sounds like the Charlie Brown teacher. NC State made it clear that the emergency instruction siren is not supposed to be deciphered unless you are literally next to a speaker, why would the City of Raleigh think you could decipher some redneck recording from a speaker 3 ft above the ground during heavy traffic and vehicular noise, pedestrian traffic and noise, and the variables introduced to the change of noise due to the atmospheric conditions such as humidity, wind, etc.... Was this not even taken into effect? I agree, the only thing you can hear is "wait wait wait" but you don't know what direction is it for. The crossing instructions are totally inaudible in the best of conditions. This experiment is a total fail.

I'd like to know how to actually activate the crosswalk on these new contraptions. The instructions are for the old indicators. These are making people cross Hillsborough Street without waiting for the light, since you can't make them activate. People are just running to the median. I agree 100% with the poster, the recording is totally inaudible.

"Wait wait wait" does NOT work. Pedestrians cannot tell if we're activating the crosswalk, so guess what, we just run across to the median instead of wait! What an insipid concept! Remove the normal push button crosswalk and replace it with something you cannot understand and doesn't give the crosser ant idea when he/she might be able to actually cross the street.

We have checked all the push buttons on Hillsborough Street. The new APS push button stations were adjusted and corrected. Thank you for reporting the problem.

Not resolved. Put the old system back. This new system you still cant hear properly.

I agree with yoder. New system isn't loud enough, especially when there is a lot of traffic noise.

I could here the one at Hillsborough and Gardner loud and clear today, from at least 75 feet away. The "wait wait wait" is rather annoying, and I'd like this feature to be disabled. The blind should have an audible indicator for when it's time to cross, but I'm not sure how the "wait wait wait" is much help even to the blind. There's too much noise pollution from the new system!

Please return the system to the old audible beeping noise and no shouting robot voice. It is not helpful to pedestrians and it is killing the walkability of the neighborhood. No one wants to be on the street--talking, drinking coffee, or passing through--with this bellowing voice echoing around. It is a strong statement by the city that we want to discourage a public life on the street. Is that the message we want to send for an area that is supposed to be pedestrian friendly?

Thanks for reopening! The concern was not addressed. I appreciate everyone else's diligence.

I work in a building that faces Hillsborough St and am now having trouble concentrating in my own office because of the increased volume on the crosswalks. The beeping took a short time to get used to, but the WAIT WAIT WAIT at that volume is disruptive to the workplace. Please turn the volume DOWN

There is a volunteer advisory panel called the Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Panel that may be able to help us with these new signals. There are two people on the contact list - please email them and let them know about the problems, and our desire to go back to the old system of beeps.

jennifer.baldwin@raleighnc.gov, eric.lamb@raleighnc.gov

Another update: Jennifer Baldwin got back to me pretty quickly. Apparently the use of "WAIT" and the other vocalizations is a new federal recommendation. However, they said they'd look into the volume issue.

The new Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) Units are specifically designed to meet the new Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standard. The MUTCD is a Federal Highway publication that is fully adopted by NCDOT and the City of Raleigh. The new APS units have a vibro-tactile push button which was designed with input from the ADA and the visually impaired. The new units have a "speech" message since the "koo koo/chirp chirp was difficult to discern what direction was safe to cross when the speakers were close. The sounds can be used in lieu of the verbal message if the speakers are located a specified distance apart.

The MUTCD thoroughly tests all traffic control devices prior to adoption. The new APS units were found to be intuitive and less confusing then the older setup. When the button is depressed, the APS units provide a verbal message to wait. While this may be an annoyance to the general public, it serves a purpose for the visually impaired. The new units adjust the volume of the speech messages based on surrounding noise levels. We have had issues with the newer units producing too loud of the auto locate noise level. The units located near the NCSU campus are there to help with the Morehead School of the Blind located off of Pullen Drive. The City does not typically install these units unless requested by a visually impaired individual. If you know of a specific location where you feel the volume is too loud, please let us know. We can have a technician verify or adjust the sound level if needed.

We have adjusted the volume at this location.

I am sitting in my office in Ricks Hall as I type this and can still VERY clearly hear WAIT WAIT WAIT from the device at the corner of Hillsborough and Lampe Dr. I can also hear the one, though obviously not as loudly, that is one light east of me. I recommend that you send your people into the offices that face Hillsborough St and have them listen, especially the ones near the intersections. I appreciate that we need to have handicap accessible crossings, especially near the Morehead School, nut there needs to be a balance for those of us who have to work under these conditions. You can have a technician email me to arrange a time to come to my office - I'd be more than happy to have them listen.

Ok I understand the need for handicap-accessible crosswalks but I also agree with festus. What if the waiting sound was a chirp and for walking it said "Please walk"? The crosswalks speak for less time but visually-impaired pedestrians can still use them easily. This way businesses with outside seating will be affected less.

Failing that, could you change it to "Please wait"? I live a block north of Hillsborough and cross it several times a day. I don't respond well to orders, especially from inanimate objects, but I respond well to requests. Thank you for your help!

An hour ago, I could hear the Horne St clearly from a distance of 200feet, and it was hard to hear a conversation with someone standing right next to me while at the Chamberlain St intersection. So, the volume is still too loud.

I understand that the voice announcing the street name to cross is useful for the blind. I also see how the word "wait" helps the blind when they press the button, but I don't see the need to continuously repeat "wait wait wait". Saying the word "wait" once when the button is pressed should be enough for a blind individual to know to wait until an announcement to cross comes.

Although I respect the need to make the crosswalks easily usable for the blind, there needs to be some consideration so people can comfortably walk, have a conversation, eat outside, or wait for a bus along Hillsborough Street.

That's a good idea. Have them say "Please wait" when the button is pressed and chirp when people can cross.

Reopening. +1 for what WestRaleighResident and Sebastian said.

I was inside DH Hill and could hear the "WAIT" on the 4th floor. It was loud. It is loud enough on the street corner. You can't understand what is being said in the recording that includes "Hillsborough St."

I crossed at the Horne St intersection today, and the volume issue seems to be fixed. It sill repeats the world "wait", which is annoying, but the volume level's reasonable.

These were re-adjusted today. Please let us know if any more changes are needed.

I had been out of the office until today. They are MUCH better now. I can still hear them just fine when standing near the crossings, but not at all in my office. Thank you! :)