10 intersections now operating the system citywide
Paju city announced Wednesday it will expand its "repeat pedestrian signal" system to improve convenience for pedestrians.
The repeat pedestrian signal system reduces waiting times by giving pedestrians a walk signal twice within a single traffic cycle in the same direction.
Paju piloted the system at two bus stops along Chaekyanggiro last year, and this month added eight more locations, bringing the total to 10. This year's newly selected sites include five intersections near City Hall, two bus stops in the Unjeong area and one in front of the Yadang Station public parking lot — all chosen for high pedestrian traffic and long wait times.
The intersection in front of the Yadang Station public parking lot was a particular pain point: despite a relatively short crosswalk of 13 meters, pedestrians had to wait up to 116 seconds for a walk signal. The upgrade cut that wait by 72 seconds.
Yang Seong-won, head of the Smart City Information Division, said reducing the pedestrian inconveniences that citizens encounter in daily life is the core of community-focused signal management. "We will continue to identify new candidate sites, focusing on areas with heavy foot traffic, to create a safe and convenient walking environment that citizens can truly feel," he said.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
