Accessible Route Navigation
Challenge Framing
It is the intention of 2026 World Cup host city regions to ensure that all fans and travelers - regardless of age or ability - enjoy safe and efficient access to game and fan venues and destinations throughout the region(s). While progress has been made, not all facilities and pedestrian routes to and from transit, parking, pick up and drop off (PUDO) locations, and destinations are universally accessible to persons with disabilities, mobility impairments, using strollers or mobility assistance devices, and/or transporting luggage or packages. As such, it is vital that these travelers reliably know, in real time, the accessible routes to their destination lest they become entrapped by temporary or permanent barriers.
Enabling every fan, attendee and general traveler to enjoy the same ease of access and circulation requires that 1) travelers are able to reliably plan and execute routes that meet their mobility abilities and 2) that transportation providers are alerted to and can address accessibility disruptions switly.
Public agencies face a number of challenges in this:
Inaccurate or insufficient information - Individuals with mobility challenges need reliable, accurate, and real-time information. Permanent infrastructure, in places, still lacks adequate curb ramps, tactile and/or audible warnings, or grades and clearances to provide universal accessibility. Many routing applications (e.g. Google maps, transit apps) lack information on accessibility of existing infrastructure and are therefore unable to reliably recommend accessible routes for a diversity of mobility needs.
Temporary traffic controls and circulation - Major events, like the World Cup, often require the deployment of temporary traffic controls that alter the typical operating environment. This may include changes to traffic flows, pedestrian channelization, temporary relocation of transit stops, stadium perimeter security, and designation of pick up and drop off (PUDO) locations. Although these temporary traffic operations are typically planned in detail well before the event, the modified networks are rarely integrated into navigation apps and wayfinding.
Dynamic and shifting environments - During large events, the environment is crowded and dynamic. Pedestrian routes are congested and crowd management issues can exacerbate accessibility challenges. Sidewalks, crosswalks and ramps might get blocked by moved or misplaced barriers, inappropriately parked or standing vehicles or bicycles, or other shifting obstacles.Travelers and host agencies need to be rapidly, readily and reliably alerted to these dynamically changing conditions so they can address or avoid them.
Diversity of needs and abilities - Needs and abilities vary amongst travelers. Strollers and wheelchairs are wider and require minimum clearance. Visually impaired travelers rely on audible and/or tactile cues. Older adults or others may be generally mobile, but require opportunities to stop and sit along their route or at pick up locations. Given the international nature of the World Cup events, language may also pose a unique barrier. While universal access is the goal, travelers need to be able to plan routes that serve their needs and abilities.
Limited routing and wayfinding tools - Due to changing and dynamic circumstances, routes suggested by a navigation app or static wayfinding signage may become inaccessible to a person with accessibility challenges. Alternate routes may be unknown or equally inaccessible leaving travelers stranded or in a continuous loop of trial and error.
Inaccurate travel time estimates - Because routing systems do not take into account the necessary adjustments that people with accessibility challenges must take to arrive at their destination, the travel time estimates are rarely accurate.
Several stakeholders are impacted by the challenges above and would be the users of proposed solutions. These include:
Individuals with accessibility challenges - Based on the challenges enumerated above, travelers with accessibility challenges can get stranded in underground transit stops or in areas with little shade or respite, waiting extended periods of time for accessible transportation, or stranded and waylaid along an inaccessible pedestrian pathway.
Transportation system owners, operators and staff - These stakeholders need to be aware of any disruptions to accessibility in real time. They also must have the data, capacity, and support to address these issues in a timely manner.
While it is not envisioned that a single solution will do everything, regarding accessibility of travel, the host city regions desire solutions that:
Foster an accessible transportation network for all who walk, roll, and use transit, regardless of age or ability.
Enable rapid response to address accessibility barriers and/or out of service equipment in and around highly congested areas.
Enable accessible navigation not only to and around stadiums and fan fest areas, but throughout the host region.
Enable richer digital information about infrastructure conditions and accessibility.
Promote safe and secure travel by enabling travelers who require accessibility assistance to quickly alert event or transportation staff.
Offer crowdsourced updates to transit and transportation information to allow users to indicate if conditions have changed.
Create a functional and easy to use tool that provides necessary information to users and does not require significant public agency staffing resources.
Integrate with existing and adopted navigation and traffic/infrastructure information systems to avoid app or system overload.
Ideally, the solutions would be a legacy tool that could extend beyond the 2026 World Cup games for regular use by the host cities.
