HATFIELD — A seeming increase in pedestrians being struck by vehicles across the region, causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries, is an issue on the mind of Hatfield Department of Public Works Director Phil Genovese.

Knowing that the town is not immune from the possibility of similar incidents, and to offer better protection to those who get around on foot, Genovese recently activated three new solar-powered crossing signals, including one for a crosswalk at Smith Academy.

“Hatfield is a walking town,” Genovese said. “A lot of people walk in this community.”

A $56,641 grant from the state Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces grant program, which promotes safe mobility, allowed Genovese to purchase four sets of crossing signals, each of which comes with the two poles and bases, flashing beacons and associated reflective signs, solar panels and buttons for pedestrians to push to activate.

In addition to Smith Academy, the other upgraded crossings are at Main and North streets, Main and School streets and Elm Street at Hatfield Village.

“It’s a good project to do under the Shared Streets program,” Genovese said.

DPW workers hand assembled the equipment, set the base and then made calls to get the signals activated and working properly.

Once they were functional, Genovese let people in town know, including the director at Hatfield Village, a 55 and over community. Genovese said he encourages the seniors who live there to use the improved crosswalk.

Genovese said he anticipates the school crosswalk will get a lot of use, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day, when School Street traffic picks up.

As school let out on Wednesday, numerous vehicles and school buses began heading onto the road, some passing over the crosswalk as students walked across.

Caitlin Graves, a sophomore, said an announcement made to students reminded them about using the signals to stay safe.

The road is busy at times, said sophomore Alexa Jagodzinski. “It’s always a challenge for people crossing at the end of the school day,” Jagodzinski said.

She appreciates that the work should make walking safer and serves a purpose.

“A lot of kids do walk home or go to the Hatfield Center Store,” Jagodzinski said. “This will be useful for them.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>