The city will go slow installing new crosswalks that require motorists to stay out of an intersection until all pedestrians have stepped off the road.

City traffic planners initially estimated they would add 20 of the "pedestrian crossovers" this year after provincial legislation came into effect Jan. 1 spelling out the new rules — and heftier fines for motorists who ignore them.

But while the city has been inundated with 150-plus requests for the beefed-up pedestrian protection, the traffic department has decided to focus on installing crossovers at three to five sites to start, said traffic operations manager Martin White.

Advocates for safer streets in Hamilton expressed impatience online at the scaled-back plans for 2015, with several noting the city ranked as one of the worst for pedestrian deaths in Ontario in a recent study.

"Perhaps we should take a hint and install more than (five)?" asked Jason Leach on Twitter, after staff said more than 150 requests had poured in.

"Part of it is simply the workload — we can't keep up," said White, who requested extra staff this year just to play catch-up on a backlog of hundreds of requests for neighbourhood traffic safety upgrades like speed bumps and speed-limit reductions.

But he added the city also wants to co-ordinate with Hamilton police on an education and enforcement blitz for the first few crossovers.

"There will be a period where (motorists) will be getting used to these things," he said.

White said he expects installation of "appropriate" crossovers to increase next year, noting not all locations pitched by eager politicians and residents make sense.

The pedestrian crossover differs from a typical painted crosswalk or controlled intersection because motorists will be required to stop and wait until all pedestrians have left the roadway.

At a regular four-way stop, for example, a motorist can still make a right or left-hand turn once a pedestrian has stepped out of the immediate path of the vehicle.

Pedestrian crossovers will also have street markings, more visible signage and sometimes flashing beacons, similar to school crossings that share the same kinds of rules.

The rules will also cost more to break — for motorists and cyclists — with fines ranging from $150 to $500 and up to three demerit points. A pedestrian crossover complete with flashing overhead beacon signs could cost $20,000 to install. Money is not the issue, though, said White, pointing out council has committed to using a flush red light camera ticket reserve to pay for the installations.

Coun. Terry Whitehead asked what criteria would be used to choose locations, expressing concern about the selection process becoming "political."

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That's one reason White was reluctant to list likely contenders at Monday's public works meeting, emphasizing he wants to base the first sites on "good data" rather than lobbying.

But previously, the department has said it is looking at complaint-prone crossings on fast-moving Queen Street near Herkimer and Aberdeen, as well as roundabouts in Ancaster, Flamborough and Glanbrook.