Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 9, 2005

SHA AND CITY OF FREDERICK PARTNER TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ALONG US 40 IN FREDERICK COUNTY

New Pedestrian Countdown Signals Installed at Four Busy Intersections
along US 40 “Golden Mile” Corridor

(May 9, 2005) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), in partnership with the City of Frederick, recently installed pedestrian “countdown” signals along US 40 at McCain Drive, Willowdale Drive, Grove Hill Road and Hillcrest Drive to increase pedestrian safety along US 40. The devices are push-button activated and display the WALK and DON’T WALK symbols along with a flashing numeric display, indicating the number of seconds remaining for a pedestrian to cross the highway.

“SHA wants to make sure the thousands of people who drive and walk in the Golden Mile corridor for shopping, restaurants and services can do so safely,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen. “People have responded very positively across the State to similar enhancements, which eliminate guess work to help people decide when to cross. These engineering tools support SHA’s Three E approach to safety – Engineering, Education and Enforcement – to decrease crashes, reduce injuries and save lives.”

With the tremendous increase in all types of traffic in the area, SHA and the City of Frederick Police conducted a study to identify pedestrian trends and activity along the US 40 ‘Golden Mile’ corridor. The four intersections selected for the initial pedestrian countdown signal installation represent the highest pedestrian activity and the greatest need for additional technology. Each of the intersections along US 40 with the new countdown signals currently has standard pedestrian push buttons and Walk/Don’t Walk indications.

"The City of Frederick, in partnership with the State, is continuing to take the necessary steps in ensuring public safety,” said Jennifer P. Dougherty, Mayor, City of Frederick. “The pedestrian countdown signals on the Golden Mile will allow our citizens to have safe access to all the amenities that the Golden Mile has to offer. We are very excited that we were able to partner with SHA and bring this innovative technology to the Golden Mile."

The pedestrian countdown signal provides information to pedestrians indicating how much time is remaining to cross a street. The device has the standard pedestrian signal with traditional shapes and color, with an added display that shows a numeric countdown of the Walk crossing time. The countdown timer starts at the beginning of the flashing Don’t Walk phase and continues counting down to zero. At the end of the pedestrian clearance interval, the countdown device displays the static DON'T WALK indication.

SHA devoted more than over $650,000 in 2004 to statewide pedestrian safety efforts and partners with local law enforcement on numerous education and enforcement efforts designed to promote awareness of Maryland’s pedestrian laws. SHA also hosts a statewide pedestrian task force that consists of more than 150 partners, including staff from SHA’s Highway Safety Office, local traffic safety professionals, law enforcement officers, state and local traffic engineers, health and injury prevention specialists, pedestrian advocates and elected officials. The Task Force meets quarterly and serves as a clearinghouse for pedestrian safety information, activities, and best practices in pedestrian safety in Maryland and around the nation.

SHA today has more than 15 pedestrian countdown signals across the State and plans to install 60-80 more by the end of the year.