A car nearly hit Elena Rothermel as she crossed busy Broadway and Hewitt Avenue on Thursday.
“He wasn’t even looking for pedestrians,” she said, after she made it safely across.
Rothermel lives on Rucker Avenue and walks for exercise. Some intersections in Everett cause her a little panic when she crosses them, she said.
Broadway and Hewitt usually isn’t one of those, thanks to the new crosswalk signals that count down the time a pedestrian has to cross the street. The signals have been in place several months, and now the city is considering adding a few more.
The signals get high marks from Rothermel.
When itchy drivers approach, she points to the sign to let them know, “‘I belong here, look at the sign.’”
The signals show pedestrians a glowing walk symbol for around five seconds before changing to a flashing red hand. Then, a 15-second countdown gives pedestrians a visual estimate of how much time remains before the traffic light turns colors.
It hurries them along.
The signals were an attempt to improve pedestrian safety, city traffic engineer Dongho Chang said. They were put up in January at two intersections: Broadway and Hewitt, and Broadway and Pacific Avenue.
Placement of the signals focused on several things, Chang said. He looked for long intersections, where pedestrians cross several lanes of traffic. Another factor was how much pedestrian traffic the intersection had.
The signals cost around $1,200 each, installed.
Intersections along Casino Road are the next places Chang hopes to add the signals, and he’s writing a grant to try to get federal money to help pay for them. They would go in at Fifth Avenue W. and near Horizon Elementary School.
“The signals give pedestrians more information on how much time is left to cross,” he said. “I think they’ve been very helpful for pedestrians.”
Four years ago, Dewayne Anderson, 89, was hit by a car while crossing Broadway and Pacific. He got bumps and bruises but fortunately nothing serious, he said.
The new signals are helpful for some, he said, but he didn’t think drivers paid any closer attention to the new pedestrian lights.
“I think it’s a good thing. This is a dangerous intersection to cross,” Anderson said. “Everyone is in a hurry.”
Reporter Jasa Santos at jsantos@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3465.
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