Firefighter and pedestrian safety around the Bedford Hills Fire Department HQ has been an ongoing concern for many years. Firefighters have been struck by vehicles, and there have been countless other close calls with both firefighters and pedestrians nearly being struck by vehicles. Additionally, drivers frequently do not stop at the stop sign as they exit Bedford Road toward Depot Plaza and drive around fire apparatus entering and exiting HQ.

Since at least 2006, the Bedford Hills Fire District and Department have been working collaboratively with the Town of Bedford (Town Board, DPW, and Police Department) to initiate traffic safety improvements, which included increased traffic enforcement, changing the yield to a stop on the spur from Bedford Road heading into Depot Plaza, upgraded LED street lights, reflective crosswalk, reflective fire zone hatching pattern and the addition of crosswalk and fire station signs.

Yesterday, the next phase of improvements was implemented with the installation of a multi-tier pedestrian traffic safety system that includes rapid flash beacon crosswalk signs, a flashing stop sign, and flashing fire station signs. These additions will undoubtedly enhance the safety of firefighters and pedestrians walking near the Bedford Hills Fire Department HQ.

The Bedford Hills Fire District and Department are extremely grateful to Supervisor Calves and the Town Board, as well as Commissioner Winn and the Bedford DPW for listening to our concerns and funding this extremely important project that is beneficial for our firefighters and town residents. We are also thankful to Chief Padilla and the Bedford Police Department for their ongoing traffic enforcement efforts around HQ.

We ask that motorists always exercise extreme caution driving through the area of BHFD, as there are often members and pedestrians crossing the street in the crosswalk, vehicles entering and exiting our parking lot and apparatus entering and leaving our HQ.