Calgary Transit has installed new blue tactile strips at City Hall and Bridgeland/Memorial CTrain station platforms. Tactile strips create a change in texture and can be felt under foot or with a cane and are easily recognized by customers who experience low vision or vision loss. Among the changes to surface texture are raised lines which act as a warning to stop, smoother lines that indicate the path is safe for walking and right angle turns to assist with wayfinding. The yellow line strips with a bumpy surface at the edge of the platform is another kind of tactile strip.
The tactile strips also provide safety enhancement features like adding an extra barrier between the platform and passing CTrains.
The implementation of tactile strips is part of a pilot study being conducted by Calgary Transit until 2024. The study will help the agency determine whether tactile strips increase accessibility and should be placed in all CTrain stations, as well as if the paths help with wayfinding. The agency will be conducting an online survey and running focus groups with low and limited vision customers to gather feedback on customer experience with the tactile strips.
