Yonkers is First City in Westchester County to Utilize In-Road Solar LED Crosswalk System
In-Road Warning System (IRWL) Crosswalk at North Broadway in Yonkers
On Nov. 12, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced the installation of six new in-road solar LED crosswalks across the City. The new LaneLight In-Road Warning System (IRWL) lights up crosswalks as pedestrians cross the street using solar-powered flashing in-pavement LED and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. The City installed the first crosswalk at School 16 on North Broadway earlier this month. Yonkers is the first city in Westchester County to install these illuminated IRWL crosswalks.
“With state-of-the-art technology and innovation, Yonkers continues to be leaders in protecting the well-being of our residents,” said Mayor Spano. “Thanks to the hard work of our Department of Public Works, these crosswalks will improve the visibility of neighborhood crosswalks in high-traffic areas and improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike.”
Additional crosswalks are set to be installed at the following locations:
- Park Avenue and Convent Place – Gorton High School
- Van Cortlandt Park Avenue at Thurman Street – School 23
- Buena Vista Avenue at Nepperhan Street – Downtown Yonkers Train Station
- Mile Square Road at Little John – South County Trailway Crossing
- McLean Avenue at E. Sanford Street
The system targets distracted drivers, including those using hands-free devices. A National Safety Council report highlighted that even hands-free devices may cause cognitive distraction, which contributes to a withdrawal of attention from the visual scene on the road. This can cause a driver to fail to notice events in the road until it’s too late to respond, especially at night. The Governors Highway Safety Association has also attributed increased pedestrian fatalities in recent years to the increase in SUVs and light trucks on the road, which tend to have larger blind spots and are more deadly to pedestrians. The LaneLight system creates a barrier of bright flashing LED lights directly in the driver’s line of sight to capture their attention.
“In 2023 the U.S had over 7,300 pedestrian fatalities, with many occurring at night. Better lighting at crosswalks is one of the ways we can prevent accidents,” said Yonkers Public Works Commissioner Thomas Meier. “As we lose daylight this time of year, the City of Yonkers is taking the lead in utilizing the latest advances in traffic safety technology and solar power to improve pedestrian safety in our communities.”
LaneLight’s below grade, snow plow-safe installation enables the technology to be used in all weather conditions. The system is solar-powered, enabling operation without relying on the electric grid and during power outages.
This initial phase of LaneLight IRWL System installations is funded by the New York Power Authority’s Smart City Grant Program and in partnership with Glenco Supply, Inc., a leading local supplier of innovative solar-driven traffic safety solutions.
“Solar-powered LED crosswalks will provide an additional measure of safety to Yonkers residents – and do it in a common sense, energy-efficient way,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The Power Authority is always looking for new partnerships like the one with the City of Yonkers to support the energy transition and help further New York State’s clean energy goals.”
