Intersections throughout Delta are being made safer to cross.
Drivers in Ladner in recent days have likely noticed several crosswalk upgrades along Arthur Drive and Harvest Drive.
Work is also being done in North Delta, and the plan is to have even more installed next year.
Pedestrian-activated amber flashers and one pedestrian controlled red light have been installed on Arthur Drive as part of a street upgrade project, while amber flashers were installed on Harvest Drive crosswalks, including an overhead flasher by Dugald Morrison Park at Mountain View Boulevard.
In total, Delta spent around $450,000 on crosswalk upgrades this year, said engineering director Steven Lan.
Earlier this year, Delta council approved an engineering department recommendation to expand the program for 2017 to upgrade 10 additional crosswalks with side-mounted, pedestrianactivated rectangular rapid flash beacons.
At locations where the traffic volumes may not yet warrant the installation of an overhead sign and mounted flash beacons, which cost an average of $90,000, or at locations where the installation of an overhead mast arm may be cost prohibitive, staff recommended installing rapid flash beacons. Those side-mounted beacons cost just $30,000 per location.
Lan said the locations for most of the upgraded crosswalks for 2017 still have to be determined and the school district and police department will be consulted to find the best spots.
A staff report notes that between 2009 and 2013, 134 pedestrian-related crashes were record in Delta. North Delta accounted for most of them at 102, while Ladner had 24 and Tsawwassen recorded eight.
There are currently 100 marked and signed pedestrian crosswalks in Delta and the municipality's transportation technical committee is proposing they all be upgraded to pedestrian-activated flashers of some kind.
Studies have shown that pedestrian-activated flashers significantly increase the compliance for drivers yielding to pedestrians.
