Torus TammerFOUNTAIN VALLEY -- The city has...

Torus Tammer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- The city has approved the installation of up to

four digital pedestrian countdown units on a trial basis this winter.

But before that happens, the city must first complete the mandatory

research required by the Federal Highway Administration and the

California Traffic Control Devices Committee.

The city just began this time-consuming process, said Jose Alire, the

city’s associate engineer.

“Prior to federal and state approval, we are required to look closely

at things like pedestrian and vehicle behavior in the city,” Alire said,

adding he expects it to take until January for all the sufficient data to

be compiled.

“The way we are doing this is by literally sitting at intersections

and monitoring foot traffic, the number of vehicles and the amount of

people crossing the street,” Alire said.

The units, which will display a digital countdown of the alloted time

available for a pedestrian to cross the street, will accompany the

traditional flashing red hand and walking green person, which are already

in place.

Altogether, nine countdown units were donated to the city. Alire, who

was part of a team who installed several of these units in Huntington

Beach, said the city’s decision was helped by the fact that he was

already familiar with the devices. The city felt that the idea would

merit further investigation and eventually, accepted the manufacturer

Gelcore’s offer and decided to move forward.

City manager Ray Kromer said the city is pleased with this project

because of the added safety it can offer residents.

“We have always been a safety-conscious city and tried to obtain

state-of-the-art equipment,” Kromer said. “It is important to conduct

research with new products so as to give people a chance to get used to

them, see if they like them, get a true evaluation.”Kromer added the city

is also proud to have been chosen by Gelcore and the eventual addition of

this new product will not only add to the safety of pedestrians, but to

motorists as well.

Fountain Valley resident Cheri Vinikow said she is pleased by the

improvements the city provides.

“I’m happy the city is trying out this safety feature,” she said.

“Once again, it’s comforting to know that Fountain Valley is on the

forefront of thinking about its constituents and their safety.”