Latest news with #RectangularRapidFlashingBeacons
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mount Pleasant unveils new flashing beacons along Mathis Ferry Road
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – The Town of Mount Pleasant celebrated Wednesday the inaugural use of a new safety improvement on Mathis Ferry Road. Leaders, staff, and neighbors gathered at the corner of Milldenhall Road and Mathis Ferry Road for to see the area's newest safety feature, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB). It comes as a step forward in the town's safety action plan and Vision Zero, which is an effort to provide connectivity, encourage healthy living, and protect non-roadway users on popular pedestrian crossings. The Point Pleasant neighborhood has been working with staff for over a year to get a RRFB installed on Mathis Ferry Road, as concerns for pedestrians had grown. 'We have a number of children in our neighborhood that use this crosswalk to get to and from school. The traffic is getting faster and faster on Mathis Ferry and it's hard for those drivers to see us trying to cross the street in the morning, especially when it's dark out,' Erin Haselkorn, a resident, said. According to national studies, the beacons are expected to reduce pedestrian crashes by 47% and increase the probability of drivers yielding to 73-93%. Will Haynie, mayor of Mount Pleasant, added that this safety feature was also a neighborhood-friendly option. 'We don't want to cut down all the trees, that's what makes Mathis Ferry beautiful and it's part of our community,' Haynie said. 'So, these rapid flashing rectangular beacons are the answer. You push the button, those little lights start blinking, and you can't miss it. So, while you might not see a person coming out of the shadows or the dark, which has happened. You know see that these flashers are there. We just need people to use them and use them correctly, it will save lives.' The town has reaffirmed $16 million for its federal Safe Streets for All initiative, which will allow for more installations. The beacons aim to make everyone feel safer, but they are especially important near schools. 'This was a high priority area because of the traffic because of the schools and because of our Safe Routes to school program. We are always looking for if there is a traffic improvement that will make a school route safer. We will go there first,' said Haynie. 'It's fantastic, we feel a lot safer with the kids in the morning crossing the street. They press the button – the drivers actually see us now and will stop, which is great,' Haselkorn said. 'Then we're able to safely cross the street and make the morning a lot less stressful and a lot easier in terms of getting to school.' The town also honored Ms. Austin, who was a crossing guard for James B. Edwards Elementary School 19 years ago. She had been struck by a car and was thankful she was able to see these beacons constructed. Officials plan to add more beacons across the town with the federal grant funds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Green Bay announces first phase of crosswalk improvements
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Officials with the City of Green Bay and the Green Bay Area Public Schools say they are pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of crosswalk improvements. According to a release from the City of Green Bay, 48 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) with high visibility crosswalks have been recently installed throughout the city. Deputy in Wisconsin helps safely rescue an injured bald eagle Officials say the first phase of this project was completed with funding from the City of Green Bay's American Rescue Act (ARPA) and with money from the Green Bay Area Public School District's November 2022 Referendum. The people of Green Bay want and deserve safe streets. These enhanced crosswalks improve pedestrian safety and driver awareness, and I'm grateful to City staff, our Common Council, and GBAPS leadership for making this plan a reality. Mayor Eric Genrich RRFBs have reportedly been proven to help enhance the safety of pedestrians by reducing crashes by up to 47% and increasing the yielding rates of drivers by up to 98%. The current RRFB project is said to follow the work of another joint effort between the City of Green Bay and the Green Bay Area Public School District, the 'Safe Walk & Bike Plan.' City officials say the purpose of the 'Safe Walk & Bike Plan' was to empower all adults and children of all abilities throughout the city to make walking and biking a part of their daily routines and to make sure they can do so safely as they head to school and other local locations. The 48 locations selected for the RRFB improvements were selected based on the crosswalks' proximity to schools along with crash data, roadway information, and community feedback. The Green Bay Area Public School District is proud to have partnered with the City of Green Bay to make our community safer for all pedestrians, but especially for our students who walk to and from school each day. Investing in pedestrian safety has the added benefit of encouraging children and adults to engage in healthy activities such as walking. Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent Vicki Bayer Officials say phase two of the crosswalk improvements will include the completion of several more enhanced crosswalks along with the installation of speed feedback signs in and around school zones. Green Bay men's hoops snaps 21-game losing skid behind Tweedy's 27 points For more information about the crosswalk improvements, the 'Safe Walk & Bike Plan,' and the locations of the improved crosswalks, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
