Alderman Roche is pressing ahead with an effort to have an educational video produced that will help to clarify the workings of the signals at the corner of Foss Park at McGrath Highway and Broadway. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

Ward 1 Alderman William M. Roche is advocating for an educational video to be made for the safety of citizens who use the crosswalk at the corner of Foss Park at McGrath Highway and Broadway.

According to Alderman Roche the pedestrian signal is confusing for the elderly and youth walking across the street.

Alderman Roche had worked for several years to increase the signal cycles at the intersection. Now he feels the pedestrian signal is difficult to understand for the elderly and the youth of Somerville.

While the time sequencing of crossing signals has been studied and administered for this intersection, the amount of time a pedestrian has to cross the street can be hard to determine.

Senior citizens, the disabled, teens and even parents with baby strollers are caught off guard when the signal starts to flash.

Regardless of when the crossing signal starts to flash the amount off time allocated is 15 seconds, said Roche. However, when the light starts to flash people do one of three things: they freeze, turn back or run forward.

The video would be shown at schools and elderly centers in order to help serve the community to be more safe and secure.