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1. What are those bird sounds I hear downtown?

White Plains has one of the more ambitious programs in the northeast for installing audible pedestrian signals to aid the elderly and sight impaired. There are 91 units currently installed at 17 intersections with more planned. Bird sounds activate during the "walk" phase and identify the range of time when it is safest to start crossing. The "chirp chirp" is for east / west crossing and the "cuckoo" is for north / south crossing.

2. Why can't we have more stop signs to control speeds on our streets?

Stop signs are warranted on the low volume approaches of intersections to clearly establish right of way. Use of unwarranted stop signs often leads to disregard of both those signs and others in the vicinity which may be more critical.

White Plains has recently purchased a speed display sign which can be used as an educational tool to help reduce speeds in the neighborhoods. The sign can be rotated among streets where more frequent violations occur. It temporarily displays individual vehicle speeds (for three seconds) while permanently displaying the 30 mph citywide speed limit.

3. What is that bright white flashing light that comes on during the red signal at Mamaroneck Avenue and Old Mamaroneck Road?

In certain situations, there are excessive red light violations. Sometimes drivers simply do not see the red signal because of its distance in relation to another signal or because it changes to red very infrequently. Strobe lights, which can accompany the red signal at these locations, are helpful in reducing violations and enhancing safety.

4. How do buttons for pedestrian work?

A special effort has been made to make sure all these buttons are operational. Please note that these buttons do not immediately respond; there is a wait time of up to 100 seconds, although typical wait times are shorter. Unfortunately, due to the delay, pedestrians may become impatient or conclude the button is not working and cross the street at improper times. Where the buttons are present, it is very important that they be used to activate the pedestrian walk interval. Please use them and follow the directions on the adjacent signs. Use of the button is the only way to ensure that sufficient crossing time will be provided.

5. When can "Children At Play" signs be used?

Excessive and improper use of this sign in prior years had rendered it ineffective in residential areas where it was typically used. The New York state recommended warrants have been modified so that now it can only be used in predominantly nonresidential areas. It is used where activities such as children playing in the vicinity roadways is unexpected.

It should also be clear that children should never be encouraged to play in any street, even on low volume streets such as dead ends. They often become complacent about the real danger that exists and are at risk when walking near, or crossing, busier streets. And yes, we have had numerous child / vehicle accidents on dead-end streets in White Plains in recent years.

6. Why do some traffic signals seem to take so long to change?

Most of the traffic signals in White Plains are a part of a system in which signals close together are timed to provide a safe and efficient progression of traffic flow. In order to keep these patterns consistent, they cannot allow side streets to turn green as soon as vehicles or pedestrians arrive. The system waits for the correct time to fit the side street green into the pattern. Therefore, with random arrival, wait times can vary from 1 to 100 seconds during peak travel times and 1 to 90 seconds during off-peak times. One hundred seconds can seem more like 5 minutes when you're in a hurry. To help compensate for this, some low volume approaches run on a half cycle or "free" operation during less busy times.

7. What is the purpose of rubber posts in the road?

There are many intersections in White Plains where white arrows or solid white lines are used to establish proper lane use. Unfortunately, too many motorists ignore these road markings because it is easy to ride right over them. The physical obstruction that rubber posts present leads to much greater lane use compliance and lower accident rates. Where they can be used, there are dramatic improvements. Accidents have been reduced as much as eighty percent at some locations.

8. What is the speed limit on streets without signs?

White Plains has a citywide legal speed limit of 30 miles per hour signed with black on white regulatory signing at each entry point into the city. Certain street sections such as Mamaroneck Avenue have higher speed limits. Black on yellow signs indicate advisory speeds for various conditions such as sharp curves. The 30 mile per hour limit is the minimum allowed citywide speed limit for all villages, towns, and cities in New York State in accordance with state law.

9. How many vehicles travel in and out of White Plains each day?

There are approximately 300,000 vehicles entering and leaving downtown White Plains on a typical weekday. This number can increase as much as 25% during the holiday season when business and shopping peaks overlap.

Fringe developed areas along Westchester Avenue (Platinum Mile), Central Avenue / Tarrytown Road, and southern Mamaroneck Avenue generate approximately an additional 100,000 - 150,000 vehicles per day.

10. Why are there so many "No Turn On Red" signs in White Plains?

There are numerous reasons for installing a "No Turn On Red" restriction, but the most prevalent reason is to protect pedestrians. When traffic is looking to make a turn on red, the driver often looks in the opposite direction from where pedestrians are crossing in order to find a gap in vehicular traffic. Motorists start to move into these gaps before they look back to check for pedestrians. It is for this reason that many intersections in downtown or near schools have a "No Turn On Red" regulation.

The Department of Traffic regularly addressed all of these and many other issues to increase the safety for White Plains residents, whether they travel the streets of the city as motorists or pedestrians.