Countdown Crosswalk Signal Coming to All Monroe County Crosswalks
By: Ali Touhey
Updated: January 17, 2013
"It's busy," said Cheri Trimble Miller. "I pay attention to the signals because I don't want to get run over."
Exactly why Monroe County's Transportation Department is taking steps to keep pedestrians, safer.
"By the end of 2014, all crosswalks in both the city of Rochester and throughout Monroe County will have the pederstrian countdown signals," said Monroe Country Transportation Director, Terry Rice.
Close to 60 crosswalks across the county already have the newer crosswalk signals where the seconds clearly indicate how much time you have before it's unsafe to cross.
"If you want to jog, if you want to walk fast, you'll know how much time you have before vehicles start."
Rice said the county hasn't looked at whether their current countdown signals have reduced accidents. Although, they plan to. Instead, he pointed to national studies.
"Across the country, they had seen accidents occuring and they believe that this is what everybody should do eventually."
The county initially received $418,000 in federal funding through a "Safe Route to School" grant.
"You never know if you're going to get this money. It's great for the county, that by the end of next year, we will have all of them done."
The remaining 366 intersections will cost $1,588,800. The federal government will pay 80 percent and the county will foot 20 percent of the bill.
The legislature will have to take that up for a vote. It's expected to pass, no problem.
