Lately, pedestrians might have noticed a new addition to the crosswalks between State High’s North and South buildings on Westerly Parkway. This improvement includes auditorial messages such as “Wait,” and “Now crossing Westerly Parkway.” All of these advancements are due to State College’s transportation planning, including improvements to pedestrian safety.
With the new helpful audio in 2026, some wondered why it took so long for Centre County to finally add this now. State High senior Tanner Cohagan, a visually impaired student who consistently uses the crosswalk to travel between school and track and field practice, expressed his opinions on the new addition.
“It definitely helps me know whenever it’s safe to cross the street because I can see the signal, I’m able to know when to go just off of sound. But it does seem a little late. I know downtown they have some, but I feel like just this whole area around here needs them. It should’ve been done sooner,” Cohagan said.
As the Centre Region Council of Governments aims to improve active transportation in the area, these improvements come at a crucial time as communities prioritize the reduction of pedestrian accidents. With the already available visual signals now accompanied by audio signals, the new Westerly Parkway additions ensure that safety is upheld for all, regardless of pedestrians’ visibility.
Cohagan also noted how much easier the audio cues are for him that some people might not pick up on.
“Every time that you press the walk button, it helps to let me know when it is switching over. Before that, if it switched, you would have no idea. I would have no idea,” Cohagan said.
Junior Connor Baldwin, who plays on the varsity basketball team at State High, discussed how he has noticed the change, especially for someone who crosses it multiple times a day for school and basketball.
“My opinion is it’s very nice, it lets everyone know when they’re allowed to cross and to make sure people aren’t going into the road when there’s cars coming. It’s a safety precaution at State High that’s valued especially for us athletes,” Baldwin said.
These upgrades represent a major step forward for the Westerly Parkway corridor, aligning with the Centre Region Council of Governments’ broader goals to reduce pedestrian accidents through enhanced, inclusive infrastructure. By installing these accessible pedestrian signals, local planners are not only improving efficiency for students and residents but also significantly increasing safety for visually impaired community members, ensuring a more accessible environment for everyone.
Editor’s Note: Tanner Cohagan is a staff writer for the Lions’ Digest. He did not review the article before publication or make any contribution outside of his interview.
