CROSSWALKS TO WISE UP BY SCHOOLS WARNING LIGHTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - ``Smart'' crosswalks, with cameras that detect people crossing and then automatically switch on flashing warning lights, will be installed on heavily traveled streets near six schools, city officials said.

There will be $260,000 in state funding toward the $479,000 project, with construction expected to start in early April and be completed in June, city officials said Tuesday.

``Anytime we can do something to improve the safety of children, we have to look into it,'' Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts said in announcing the plan.

The ``smart'' crosswalks will be installed at Lancaster Boulevard and 12th Street West near Monte Vista Elementary School, at Lancaster and 27th Street East near Tierra Bonita Elementary School, Fifth Street East and Kettering Street near Linda Verde Elementary School, 15th Street West and Avenue H-10 near Desert View Elementary School, Fifth Street East and Avenue H-11 near Piute Middle School and 30th Street East and Kettering near Cole Middle School.

City officials have applied for more state funding to install the equipment at five more intersections, officials said.

The special signals are already at use at some sites in Los Angeles, said Lancaster traffic engineering consultant Jim Sherman, who saw a half- dozen installed in Los Angeles when he was a traffic engineer there.

``They seemed to work out very well,'' Sherman said. ``I saw the potential impact they could make here as well, especially with the high speeds and traffic volume in those areas.''

The special crosswalks will have flashing yellow lights activated by movement that is detected by cameras pointed at the crosswalk area. The beacons flash until the crosswalk is clear, officials said.

There will still be crossing guards at the intersections to escort children across the street, but the special crosswalks will provide added warning to motorists, officials said.

Unlike pedestrian signals at traffic lights, the warning lights aren't activated by push buttons because designers believe that pedestrians using push buttons might get a false sense of security.

``We wanted to make sure that crossing guards still use caution,'' said Sherman. ``We don't want them to think that they have the right of way when they might not.''

Each day more than 37,000 vehicles and 1,400 youngsters pass through the intersections selected for the special crosswalks, city officials said.

``It's a matter of exposure for the kids,'' Sherman said. ``The more vehicles they are exposed to while crossing the street, the more likely something bad could happen.''