Leander will get a new crosswalk

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - The mother of a 12 year-old Leander girl who was hit while illegally crossing a busy roadway last spring has new hope. Leader city council is talking about putting in a new pedestrian signal light along Bagdad road at Leander High School.

As the area has filled in with new families, many children now regularly cross Bagdad road to get to convenience and dollar stores on the east side. During rcommuting hours, it's a risky proposition.

After the accident that resulted in severe arm and leg injuries for Naarah McKinney last March 19th, the city installed bright yellow warning signs telling drivers to be cautious. She's returned to middle school, but only for half days still suffering from fatigue and pain as her body continues to heal.

She told KXAN, "I have therapy. I have friends who help me get through the days I'm all gloomy."

And there's another surgery coming up to help her straighten her arm again. Naarah's mom credits news coverage of her daughter's accident last spring for the new proposal before city leaders to install a modern pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the spot where Naarah was hit. You can see how the device works at www.spotdevices.com

Tebora McKinney told KXAN, "There's no reason why something shouldn't have been put up or done a long time ago."

A decade ago, Leander was home to just 76 hundred people. Today it's a full sized Austin bedroom community of 30 thousand. City engineers are playing catch-up. This will be Leander's first such high tech crosswalk.

Wayne Watts, Leander City Engineer explained the 70 thousand dollar construction project has the latest flashing light technology and signage to give drivers ample warning to stop.

"(The new pedestrian crossing has) a mast arm out over the roadway. We've got two signal heads on each mast arm. It's going to be hard to miss."

The system being considered will cost about $70 thousand to install. Add to that, the $18 thousand already spent on the engineering study. The cost is expected to be split with the Leander ISD. Its board members are expected to take up the issue January 9th.

After Naarah was injured, her mother has been to work only part time as a nurse. She says the rest of her days are spent getting the 12 year-old to medical appointments.

But she sees that some good may now have come out of her daughter's accident in a growing area, full of young people.

"Hopefully they'll catch up with all this growth and do the right thing, she said.

The Leander City Council approved the item unanimously on Thursday night. The signal crossing could be operational by the end of May.