On a busy summer Saturday afternoon, it can take time to get across the busy downtown streets of Port Clinton. Thanks to grants available from the Ohio Department of Transportation, four Enhanced Cross Walks may help people safely and efficiently cross the roads while helping vehicles cruising through town.

But first, according to Mayor Mike Snider, some car counting is needed on Saturday, July 18 at the four locations. Hiring a private firm to survey vehicles and pedestrians is expensive, so Snider and his Chief Volunteer Coordinators, Snip and Sharon Snider, are recruiting volunteers.

“Can you count without taking off your shoes?” ask the Sniders. If the answer is yes, you’re hired.

People will be stationed at the sites for the Enhanced Cross Walks at the Port Clinton City Beach on Perry Street; Mr. Ed’s Bar & Grill and Dock’s Beach House on W. Lakeshore Drive; the Jet Express and Island Port on Monroe Street at the Portage River; and Fremont Road at Portage Drive, just south of Tru-Lay Stadium.

If all goes right, the Enhanced Cross Walks will be installed with grants covering the cost of $285,000 for each one.

The deluxe crossings feature lights that will turn red during intervals of high pedestrian traffic trying to cross the road. When there are few pedestrians in sight, the green lights will keep the traffic flowing.

To check them out, an Enhanced Cross Walk was installed a couple of years ago on extremely busy East Wooster Street on the Bowling Green State University campus. It received rave reviews.

The volunteers willing to count vehicles and pedestrians can pick times between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on July 18. They can count for an hour or two, or bring folding chairs, a cooler of cold drinks and snacks and keep on counting all morning or afternoon.

Call Snip and Sharon Snider at 419-341-3927 to volunteer.