Vibrant Sight QR Codes Come To North Shore Commuter Rail Stations

SALEM, MA — North Shore commuters and those who travel the Rockport-Newburyport line to Salem this Halloween season may notice new vibrantly colored QR codes designed to help the visually impaired navigate stations and gain travel information

The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services recently introduced the pilot program to test the NaviLens codes at North Station and Salem Station, with plans to soon add them at Beverly, Swampscott, Lynn and Chelsea.

The NaviLens technology allows blind and low-vision passengers to navigate the station with a smartphone app through the QR code. When riders scan the codes, the app will provide information on correct platforms, real-time train information and guide them to exits or other landmarks with audio directions and haptic feedback.

The MBTA promoted the NavilLens codes on Thursday as part of World Sight Day.

Keolis said it will gather feedback from riders and work with the MBTA's System-wide Accessibility team to better understand all of the ways that the technology could be used and implemented in support of accessible wayfinding before determining whether to expand the program or make it permanent.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)