California Vehicle Code § 21450.5

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following definitions: (1) “Accessible pedestrian signal” or “APS” means an integrated device that communicates information about the “WALK” and “DON’T WALK” intervals at signalized intersections in nonvisual formats, including audible tones, speech messages, and vibrotactile surfaces, to pedestrians who are blind or have low vision. (2) “Leading pedestrian interval” or “LPI” means an official traffic control signal that advances the “WALK” signal for three to seven seconds while the red signal halting traffic continues to be displayed on parallel through or turning traffic. (3) “Pedestrian hybrid beacon” means a special type of hybrid beacon used to warn and control traffic at an unsignalized location to assist pedestrians in crossing a street or highway at a marked crosswalk. Following an actuation by a pedestrian, a pedestrian hybrid beacon face shall display to motorists and bicyclists a flashing CIRCULAR YELLOW signal indication, followed by a steady CIRCULAR YELLOW signal indication, followed by both steady CIRCULAR RED signal indications during the pedestrian walk interval and followed by alternating flashing CIRCULAR RED signal indications during the pedestrian change interval. Upon termination of the pedestrian change interval, the pedestrian hybrid beacon faces shall revert to a dark, not illuminated, condition. When a pedestrian makes an actuation, they shall wait for a “WALK” signal to appear on the pedestrian head in order to proceed. After the countdown, a “DON’T WALK” signal appears, and the pedestrian hybrid beacon has to be activated again to initiate a “WALK” signal. (4) “Replaced” or “replacement” means the relocation or exchange in place of all existing signal poles at an intersection with new signal poles. (5) A “traffic-actuated signal” is an official traffic control signal, as specified in Section 445, that displays one or more of its indications in response to the presence of traffic detected by mechanical, visual, electrical, or other means. (6) “Caltrans” means the Department of Transportation. (b) Upon the first placement of a traffic-actuated signal or replacement of the loop detector of a traffic-actuated signal, the traffic-actuated signal shall, to the extent feasible and in conformance with professional traffic engineering practice, be installed and maintained to detect lawful bicycle or motorcycle traffic on the roadway. (c) Cities, counties, and cities and counties shall not be required to comply with the provisions contained in subdivision (b) until the Department of Transportation, in consultation with these entities, has established uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by traffic-actuated signals and related signal timing. (d) (1) At crosswalks with state-owned or -operated traffic-actuated signals and pedestrian hybrid beacons with pedestrian signal heads, the walk indication and other visual signals, including, but not limited to, LPIs and countdown pedestrian signals, shall comply with the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD), 4E.11. These pedestrian signal heads shall have an APS pushbutton or touch-free APS that activates “WALK” and “DON’T WALK” intervals and other visual signals at signalized intersections in nonvisual formats, including, but not limited to, audible tones, speech messages, and vibrotactile surfaces. These features shall be activated, maintained, and available at all times of the day. (2) (A) Touch-free APS shall be installed at new signalized pedestrian crossings on capital projects on the state highway system, defined in Section 300 of the Streets and Highways Code, encroachment permit projects, and highway maintenance-funded projects according to the following schedule: (i) Capital outlay support projects that have a ready to list date. (ii) Capital ou

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