Transportation
BY AUBREY VOGEL
Fort Bend County pioneers crosswalk technology by schools
Fort Bend County will be the first U.S. agency to deploy new crosswalk technology in school zones that aim to keep pedestrians safe and drivers alert. The gist The Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, school zone safety beacons and pedestrian technology are designed to warn drivers on their smartphones or through vehicle technology through voice alert to slow down as they approach schools, county and C-V2X officials announced in a March 4 news release. A closer look Brian Fields, traffic operations superintendent for the county’s road and bridge department, said the technology will be installed in all school zone signs with flashing lights that are maintained by the county in Katy, Fort Bend and Lamar Consolidated ISDs. The technology will also be installed in traffic signals.
Pedestrian-involved accidents in Houston area, 2014-23
+29.27%
1,200 1,000
0 200 400 600 800
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020 2021
2022 2023
SOURCE: TEXAS OPEN DATA PORTAL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
play a pivotal role in implementing technology that could keep pedestrians safe as pedestrian-involved accidents continue to grow in the Houston area. Installation began March 13 and is slated for completion in August, Fields said. Specific loca- tions of where the technology is being installed were not available by press time.
The $3.03 million project is being funded by the county’s 2024 capital improvement project funds, earmarked for school zone safety and public safety awareness, Fields said in an email. Going forward Fields said the county has the opportunity to
Powered by FlippingBook