Wilmington, Del. — Xavier Lawrence, a high school senior at Early College High School at Delaware State University, has successfully advanced a community safety initiative aimed at improving pedestrian accessibility near one of Wilmington’s busiest transportation hubs.
With the support of State Representatives Stephanie Bolden and Kamela Smith, Lawrence brought attention to the critical need for Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at the intersections of Front Street and French Street, located adjacent to the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Amtrak Station.
These intersections serve thousands of daily travelers, including individuals who are blind, have low vision, or cannot rely on traditional visual walk signals. Lawrence emphasized that the absence of audible and tactile cues creates preventable safety risks for many pedestrians navigating the area.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals are installed in communities across the United States to provide audible tones, spoken messages, and vibrating surfaces that communicate when it is safe to cross. These devices are designed to give pedestrians with visual impairments the same level of information and independence that sighted pedestrians receive from traditional walk signals. APS systems have been widely adopted in cities nationwide as part of broader efforts to improve safety, equity, and accessibility in public infrastructure.
Xavier explained that “Accessible Pedestrian Signals ensure that every person—regardless of ability—can cross safely and confidently. “Safety shouldn’t depend on whether someone can see a signal.” Activation of these Accessible Pedestrian Signals at the Biden Amtrak Station today marks an important milestone in our work designed to create more accessible environments for everyone, especially those living with blindness and low vision in Delaware."
Lawrence’s advocacy is informed in part by his own efforts to travel independently throughout Delaware. He has been working to build these skills with the assistance of Madison Hunsucker, a Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor with the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired, whose guidance has supported his goal of navigating communities safely and confidently.
Representatives Bolden and Smith commended Lawrence’s leadership and dedication to public safety, noting that his advocacy reflects the meaningful impact young people can have on strengthening community infrastructure. Both legislators expressed support for advancing APS installation at the identified intersections.
Lawrence intends to continue his advocacy for safer street crossings throughout Delaware by promoting the use of Accessible Pedestrian Signals statewide, supporting efforts that help all residents travel safely and independently.
His work reinforces a growing commitment to ensuring that pedestrians across the state—regardless of ability—can navigate their communities with confidence and security.