Winnipeg's first Pedestrian Countdown Signals installed this week at Portage Avenue and Donald Street

Signals will provide more information for pedestrians crossing the street

WINNIPEG - Beginning this week, the City will install Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS) at all four crosswalks at the intersection of Portage Avenue and Donald Street. This is the first installation of a PCS in Winnipeg and is part of a pilot project.

The pilot project will evaluate the field performance of the devices within the traffic signals system as well as to receive feedback on the operation from users.

Pedestrian Countdown Signals are intended to provide pedestrians with more information to assist them in their decision-making process when crossing a street. The PCS is a numeric countdown display mounted below the existing pedestrian signal (walking figure/flashing hand/solid hand) that indicates the number of seconds remaining for a pedestrian to complete the crossing.

�The use of PCS in other jurisdictions has been shown to reduce pedestrian uncertainty regarding the meaning and timing of pedestrian signals,� said Luis Escobar, the City's Manager of Transportation. �The signals provided particular benefit to vulnerable road users such as children, the elderly and pedestrians with limited mobility.�

Installation is expected to cost approximately $10,000 per intersection.

Once evaluated, the City will review the feedback, and establish criteria for PCS installation and consider a multi-year implementation plan at other locations.