New signs seek pedestrian safety

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Specially marked yield signs in pedestrian crosswalks are part of an experimental program the city has launched to help improve traffic/pedestrian safety.

The signs cost $300 each (for the sign and the mounting system). The Traffic Safety Board has ordered two more signs to go along with the those currently posted near the intersection of Jackson and Main Street on American Legion and South 10th East and on American Legion and 14th street. The new signs will be posted within the next six weeks.

The purpose for the new signs is to aid pedestrian traffic downtown and at school crosswalks. Police Chief John Walter feels that the signs are the most effective on uncontrolled intersections

The signs posted at American Legion and South 10th have helped slow down traffic for children crossing the street at Hacker after school.

"There may be some people out there with a negative opinion, but the (overall) feedback we've gotten is positive," said Walter.

"This is not a permanent solution, we just hope it is something that in the near future, would provide lighted crosswalks or stop lights," said Councilman Russ Anderson, the city council's liaison to the traffic safety board.

Walter added that the signs will benefit Mountain Home.

'"I think it will make Mountain Home a little more pedestrian (friendly)," he said.

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I like them, but not sure how effective they will be. I would like to see a light installed at the corner of Family Dollar so when a pedestrian presses a button to cross, it changes from yellow flashing to red, while the pedestrian crosses. It might be costly, but saving a life would justify that cost.

-- Posted by gamesgurl on Wed, Jun 4, 2008, at 1:03 PM
$300.00 EACH!!!???

I'll bet the shop class could have made them for $30.00 each.

-- Posted by MrMister on Wed, Jun 4, 2008, at 9:46 PM
I noticed the ones at East Jackson and Main have nearly been run over by the 40 MPH traffic. Yesterday I counted 6 cars that passed by a pedestrian inside the cross walk on American Legion.

-- Posted by Reserve ID on Thu, Jun 5, 2008, at 11:06 AM
I am glad they installed those signs. A few weeks before they appeared on the roads my girls and friends were crossing, on a crosswalk, when someone deliberately tried to run them down, then stopped their car on Am. Legion and got out and chased the girls down the street yelling and swearing at them because they were crossing the street. We called the police and made a report -- I hope the signs were partially a result of this incident.

-- Posted by mom2one on Fri, Jun 6, 2008, at 11:07 AM
"The signs cost $300 each "

Gosh, two signs @ $300.00 dollars each. I thought that was what the speed zone signs was for.

-- Posted by Beau on Tue, Jun 10, 2008, at 4:06 AM

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