Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Federal Highway Administration

Engineers to Pedestrians: No ‘Walk’ Signs for You!

Photo: Michael Smith

Pedestrians won't get "Walk" signals at thousands of intersections thanks to a decision by a powerful group of engineers in Washington on Thursday.

The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices — which establishes rules for road signs, signals and markings — opted to not require the "signal heads" for pedestrians — signs that display the "walk" or "don't walk" signal — at every intersection, despite pressure from an insurgent group of progressive engineers.

"Engineers may continue to not install pedestrian signal heads ... this is our transportation profession," engineering consultant Bill Schultheiss, one of the insurgents, tweeted after the ruling.

The NCUTCD's decision comes at a time when pedestrian deaths are on the rise. About 6,000 people were killed while walking last year, a nearly 50-percent increase over the last five years.

"The committee not passing requirement to provide pedestrian signal when installing new traffic signal is very disappointing," Dongho Chang, Seattle's lead traffic engineer and one of the engineers who pushed for the change, told Streetsblog in an email. "We’ll continue to work with members that have concerns to change their perspectives."

If the changes would have been approved they would have become part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is used as a guideline on every road project in America. NCUTCD said it is not sure when the next edition of the manual will be published.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday’s Headlines Got DOGE’d Again

Amidst uncertainty about future federal funding, Amtrak is cutting $100 million and 450 jobs.

May 9, 2025

Friday Video: Where Was the First Public Bus Route in the World?

...and which surprising historical figure helped launch it?

May 9, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here

After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.

May 8, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Are Not Gonna Pay a Lot for This Truck

President Trump's tariffs, along with rising insurance costs, are driving down Americans' interest in owning a car.

May 8, 2025

How One Suburb is Using Transit to Transform Into a True City

A Washington State suburb may be poised to evolve into a true transit-oriented hub – and offer lessons for other bedroom communities, even during an anti-transit era.

May 8, 2025
See all posts