SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The city is planning to experiment with 3D crosswalks.
The idea was discussed during Summerside council's committee meeting on May 5, held via video conference.
Last year, the city started looking into innovative crosswalk initaitives and managed to install a few of them around town to make them safer for pedestrians to cross.
This includes rectangular rapid flash beacons at some crosswalks, which feature signal lights to warn motorists when someone's crossing. At others, buckets containing reflective flags have been put up for pedestrians to carry while crossing.
"People are really happy with those," Coun. Barb Ramsey said.
The three-dimensional crosswalks will be painted onto the road, meaning they're not actually 3D. But they'll be designed to look like they are, creating an optical illusion that influences motorists to slow down.
Greg Gaudet, the city's municipal services director, wants councillors to select a few intersections across Summerside where these may be best suited. They're also welcome to check with their constituents for recommendations, and the city will compile this data to make a final decision.
"It'd be a good collaborative effort," he said.
Since street-painting in Summerside is anticipated to begin this month, Gaudet hopes to start applying the 3D crosswalk design at the selected locations at the same time.