SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Some serious accessibility concerns are being raised in downtown Scranton. The sounds that signal pedestrians when it is safe to walk are now silenced. This comes as the Electric City undergoes a traffic study to potentially replace some of its traffic lights with stop signs.
The goal of the study is to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, however, not all pedestrians cross the road the same way.
The noise you hear when it’s safe to cross the street in downtown Scranton is no longer sounding. It’s a sound that is incredibly important to people who are blind or visually impaired.
“Because at the stoplights, they’re allowed to hit the button to be alerted that there’s a sound that they can begin to cross the street,” Lackawanna Blind Association Executive Director, Mary Ann Iezzi, explained.
However, with the downtown Streetscapes traffic study underway, that button and the signaling sound is not an option at some intersections.
“The biggest concern that our clientele have is the fact that they are going to be challenged crossing the street on their own because there’s no longer going to be an opportunity to push a button to alert that you could walk,” Iezzi said.
Archbald Borough expected to vote on Wildcat Ridge
“I know people think, ‘Oh, they’re blind, and they’ll have a red and white cane,’ but a lot of people who are visually impaired don’t use a red and white cane, so it’s kind of a hidden disability,” Lackawanna Blind Association Social Worker, Mary Claire Boylan, added.
The Association says they have been working with the city to increase safety for its clients for more than a year, and city officials say they have explored options, including activated flashing signs at stop-sign locations with an audible notice.
However, state and federal standards do not allow an activated flashing sign at a stop sign because drivers are legally required to stop at stop signs and always yield to pedestrians.
Iezzi said, “So, drivers are going to have to be more aware, and we’re just going to have to continue to work with the city to find ways to make crossing the street safer for not only our clientele, but for everyone who’s walking in the downtown.”
City officials said they are “conducting public outreach to remind motorists of the rules at stop signs and crosswalks. Scranton Police and traffic engineers are monitoring compliance, and the police will conduct enforcement going forward.”
In the meantime, city officials say there are measures currently in place at crosswalks to help the visually impaired like the curb bump-outs, textured and colored crosswalks, and more signs reminding drivers to stop for pedestrians. They also said they have agreed to explore more options to increase safety.
It is a conversation the Lackawanna Blind Association said they are hoping to continue.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.