Enhanced Pedestrian Safety Signals Proposed for Public Square Project

Vol. III, No. 349 - Amendement Is Expected to Take Center Stage at Monday's Troy City Council Meeting

Two weeks ago, Troy City Council moved forward with a $12 million downtown streetscape project in a vote that raised questions about whether proper procedure was followed. Councilmember Jeff Schilling tried to amend the resolution before the vote to include rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the Public Square’s crosswalks, but he never got the chance. The council skipped past his amendment and moved straight to a final roll call. This publication covered that vote here:

Now he’s getting another shot.

According to a memorandum circulated to council on May 15, Schilling intends to offer an amendment at Monday night’s meeting to retroactively change the resolution that was adopted on May 4. If it passes, the city would be required to include eight double-sided rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) in the bid specifications for the downtown renovation project.

The amendment would increase the project budget from $12 million to $12.16 million — an additional $160,000.

For this amendment to pass, Schilling needs five votes. That’s a simple majority of the nine-member council, though two members are expected to be absent, Mrs. Snee and Mrs. Westfall.

What Are RRFBs, and Why Does It Matter?

Rectangular rapid flashing beacons are pedestrian-activated crosswalk signals. When someone presses a button to cross the street, bright yellow LED lights flash in a rapid, alternating pattern to alert drivers that a pedestrian is about to enter or is already in the crosswalk.

They are not traffic signals. They don’t stop traffic. But some research shows they work.

A study published in 2023 found that RRFBs reduced total pedestrian-involved crashes by 69 percent. The Federal Highway Administration reports that RRFBs can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 47 percent and increase driver yield rates to as high as 96 percent. They are especially effective on multi-lane roads with speed limits below 40 miles per hour — but the new safety enhancements to the Public Square will eliminate the multi-lane configuration coming into the traffic circle.

The average cost to install a complete RRFB system, including installation, labor, and materials, is approximately $22,250 per unit. Schilling’s amendment calls for eight double-sided beacons at a total cost of $160,000, which aligns with national cost data.

Compared to full traffic signals, which can cost upward of $200,000 each, or pedestrian hybrid beacons, which run closer to $57,000 to $100,000, RRFBs are a relatively low-cost pedestrian safety measure.

This Is the Pivotal Vote

If you care about pedestrian safety downtown, this is the vote that matters.

Once the city advertises for bids and a contract is signed, the window to add RRFBs becomes more challengin. Changes after that point become costly change orders or lost opportunities. Monday night is when the council decides whether pedestrian safety features are part of the project from the start — or whether they get left on the cutting room floor.

Schilling voted yes on the original resolution. He supported moving the project forward. He was not trying to delay or derail it. He was trying to improve it. That distinction is important, because it signals that this amendment is not about stopping progress. It’s about making sure that progress includes the safety features the Public Square needs.

The memo to council makes clear that this motion will be debatable and subject to amendment. That means there will be time for discussion. Council members can ask questions. The public can weigh in. And at the end of that process, five members of council will need to vote yes for the amendment to pass.

What Happens Next

Troy City Council meets Monday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Government Center. The meeting is open to the public, and public comment is typically allowed before votes are taken.

If you believe that a $12 million investment in the Public Square should include these pedestrian safety features, this is the meeting to attend. If you think that adding RRFBs makes sense given the research on crash reduction and driver yielding, now is the time to let your council member know.

The project is moving forward either way. The only question is whether it moves forward with or without the safety features that could improve pedestrian safety.

That decision gets made Monday night.

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