1. Identify the appropriate department and contact person. It may be public safety, engineering, public works, transportation, street, or something else.
2. Identify the local process for obtaining a traffic study, if one is required.
3. Identify legal and preferred [already in use] traffic calming methods for your municipality. Not every city allows lighted crosswalk systems, but most do.
4. Print related guides and applications from your local government’s website.

Step #4: Hold a Community Meeting & Begin Gathering Data

By now, you understand what your municipality requires and have defined the target crosswalk location in need of a lighted crosswalk system. Bring all of this with you to share with the community at the meeting. Additional research may need to be done and/or items filled out for the city. Items to discuss at the meeting could include:

1. The cause(s) of the unsafe crosswalk. Does heavy traffic start before and extend beyond your block and this location? Look at the bigger picture; try to be specific about the cause of the safety issue.
2. Establish who will be the liaison and contact between the neighborhood and the city.
3. Determine what data needs to be collected and who will be responsible for collecting it. Make sure the format is easy to understand. Data to collect includes:

• Identify the number of pedestrian-generating facilities (Ex. schools, parks, restaurants, transit stops, shopping malls), basically any place that generates pedestrian activity, their proximity to the target area and frequency of occurrence.
• Identify when heavy traffic, speeding, and any other driving condition that create hazards.
• Identify pedestrian usage of the crosswalk, and times. [Most accidents occur at nighttime.]
• Try to demonstrate that a number of cars aren’t stopping for pedestrians.
• Identify the number or percentage of pedestrians considered vulnerable; this includes children under 12, seniors, disabled, etc.
• Gather other data, accident reports, newspaper articles and stories about the crosswalk location.
• It is helpful to collect testimonials from neighbors about how the dangers of this crosswalk affects their and/or their family’s safety, and impacts their quality of life.
  

Step #5: Create A Petition

By now you should have enough information to create your petition. You can create one yourself with space enough for 200 signatures (or more if required by the city). Print it out and begin gathering signatures, or use online petition sites such as: www.change.org, www.thepetitionsite.com or www.gopetition.com. Online petitions make signature-gathering and sharing easy, and let you email the petition directly to the city and other local officials. Be sure to collect addresses along with signatures, as the city will want to see the names of its local residents who are in favor of a lighted crosswalk. If accidents have occurred at this crosswalk, include URL links or photocopies of news articles, photos of the crosswalk, testimonials from residents, and documentation gathered from Step #4 and attach send with the petition.

Step #6: Present Your Case to the City

Present/send the signed petition, along with your city’s official application and documents created in Step #3. Include a cover letter with your contact information explaining your request for a lighted crosswalk system, such as a LightGuard Systems Smart Crosswalk, and the reasons your community wants this.

1. Provide the name of your neighborhood or organization and the crosswalk location.
2. Tell them why you are concerned about this crosswalk’s safety, and reference the neighborhood testimonials, data, accident reports, newspaper articles and stories collected in Step #4.
3. Explain that you’ve held a meeting and have a petition with a certain number of signatures from residents in the target area.
4. Explain the procedure you are following, such as the city’s application form.
5. Print (on official letterhead, if possible) and mail these to your city contact(s) identified in Step #3.
   

Step #7: Contact Other Local Officials

You should also identify and reach out to your local council person, police precinct and fire house. Ask your council person to send a letter of support to the city contact. Can they provide any resources to assist? Ask the precinct if they are able to conduct a traffic study, if needed.Report findings back to your community.

Step #8: Follow Up

However, if you do not hear back from your city contact within two weeks, call and follow up. Ask when you can expect to receive an answer about the installation of a lighted crosswalk system, and the next steps in the process. [You may need to do this several times.] If necessary, bring your formal complaint—and other concerned neighbors—to council meetings or other relevant public meetings.

TIP: If tax dollars are insufficient for funding a lighted crosswalk project, consider holding a fundraising event or online campaign. Funding sources could be neighbors, local businesses and government—anyone who has an interest or whose establishment will be affected by the project. Get pricing from LightGuard Systems on lowest cost options, such as a push button activated, AC powered flashing LED sign or RRFB system—a faster and less costly solution than a complete lighted crosswalk system with in-roadway warning lights. For ideas, take a look at our Smart Crosswalk Brochure and starting pricing.