Pedestrians at the intersection of Webb and Cogburn roads in Milton get a seven-second head start before vehicles receive a green light, a change the city activated Sept. 28.

The signal adjustment went live when Fulton County Schools students returned from fall break, Appen Media first reported. The setup, called a leading pedestrian interval, activates the walk signal before same-direction traffic gets a green. That gives walkers time to step into the crosswalk where turning drivers can see them.

The city also banned right turns on red at the intersection during school hours: 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Without that restriction, drivers turning right on red could enter the crosswalk while pedestrians still have their head start.

Three schools sit along Cogburn Road near the intersection: Cogburn Woods Elementary, Hopewell Middle School and St. Francis High School, according to the city's school directory. The intersection sees heavy foot and vehicle traffic, city officials said.

The city said on Facebook that it expects a minor increase in vehicle delay and a significant improvement in pedestrian safety during school hours. A new crosswalk button with a sign explaining the pedestrian signals has also been installed.

The Federal Highway Administration classifies the leading pedestrian interval as a proven safety countermeasure. The cost is minimal when only signal timing needs to change.

The signal change is part of a broader Webb and Cogburn intersection improvement project under Mayor Peyton Jamison's administration. The Milton City Council considered a construction services agreement with Azimuth Contractors, LLC at its Jan. 5 meeting, according to council records. The scope includes a 10-foot-wide multi-use path, signalized turn lanes, resurfacing and landscaping. The city described the project as part of its effort to connect pedestrian routes through the Deerfield area to the Big Creek Greenway Trail.

Drivers should expect slightly longer waits at the intersection during school hours. The city plans to monitor the signal and may adjust the length of the head start.