SIGNALS CROSS
Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced the recent addition of two, flashing-light pedestrian crossing signals to existing pedestrian crosswalks located in front of Hanora Lippitt Manor at 1 Main Street, pictured here, and at the entrance to World War II Veterans Memorial Park on Social Street. The system is designed to provide a 96 percent driver compliance rate – as compared to only 20 percent for a painted crosswalk alone. Designed with a solar panel, the cost-effective unit requires zero electricity to operate its lights. Here, Hanora Lippitt Manor resident Ed Hanson, 75, activates the signal before crossing the street on a busy Wednesday evening.
WOONSOCKET — Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt has announced the recent installation of two flashing-light pedestrian crossing signals at existing crosswalks located in front of Hanora Lippitt Manor at 1 Main St. and the entrance to World War II Veterans Memorial Park on Social Street.
The system is designed to provide a 96 percent driver compliance rate, nearly five times higher than a normally painted crosswalk without illumination, according to Carmanah Technologies, which manufacturers the crossing signal units.
“Increasing the presence of these ultra-smart and safety-conscious crossing signals at marked crosswalks is an immediate and impactful public safety upgrade that benefits us all,” the mayor said. “I am proud to integrate this advanced technology into the city’s overall public safety plan.”
The crosswalk lights have “a proven performance record” that served the city well since they were first tested last winter, according to Baldelli-Hunt.
Each of the units utilizes a series of high intensity, rapid-flashing amber LED lights to alert motorists to the presence of a person located within a marked crosswalk. The flashing lights activate when a pedestrian pushes the unit’s metal button.
The two recently added signals bring the number presently in use to four. Pilot units were first installed last winter at marked pedestrian crossings located at J. F. Kennedy Manor apartments on Clinton Street and in front of The Stadium Theatre on Main Street. Designed with a solar panel, the cost-effective units require no electricity to operate. The city’s Highway Department installed the signals.
“Regardless of any safety mechanisms in place, it is extremely imperative for all pedestrians at all times to continue to remain highly alert, mindful of motorists and exercise extreme caution when crossing any road at any time of day,” said Michael Debroisse, superintendent of Solid Waste/Engineering. “The method of look left, look right and look left again that we learned as children remains valid and still holds true today.”