Pedestrian Countdown Signals Coming Soon

As many as 1,500 pedestrian countdown signals will soon hit busy intersections citywide, including along the speedy corridors of Flatbush, Atlantic and Fourth avenues.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn announced the plans in Downtown Brooklyn on Monday. She said that major roadways were two-thirds more deadly for pedestrians than smaller local streets. For that reason, according to Sadik-Kahn, most of the countdown signals will be installed on those major roadways.

Appearing at Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street with Councilmember Leticia James (Councilmember Steve Levin was slated to appear), Sadik-Kahn said 32 pedestrian crashes had occurred at the intersection between 2005 and 2009.

According to a pilot study conducted by DOT, countdown signals are "effective at helping pedestrians avoid getting caught in the middle of a crosswalk."

Countdown signals have already been installed at Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street in Park Slope, a particularly crash-prone intersection with heavy pedestrian traffic due to the F, G and R subway entrances. All told, there will be 14 more countdown signals installed around the borough, though none are in Park Slope.

"I am thrilled the Department of Transportaton is installing pedestrian countdown signals," said Councilmember Steve Levin in a statement. "I have studied the positive effects on pedestrian countdown signals and I know this busy intersection will benefit from this change."

Levin added that he hopes DOT will install even more signals, and consider Leading Pedestrian Intervals, lower speed limits and other safety measures.

All 1,500 signals will be installed by this time next year, said Sadik-Kahn. Funding is coming from the Federal Highway Funding, she added.

The installation is one part of the Pedestrian Safety Study and Action Plan, announced last year by the DOT. Other steps in the plan include testing 20 mph zones in some city neighborhoods.

For now, the pedestrian countdown signals are intended to equip pedestrians with more information.

"We've heard people like the information to make an informed decision," said Sadik-Kahn.

Editor's Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that countdown signals were previously installed at Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street.