The city of Seattle is re-timing traffic signals throughout the city to make crosswalks safer for all pedestrians.

A study conducted by a group of graduate students at the University of Washington School of Public Health in 2013 found that traffic signals in Rainier Valley force pedestrians to cross faster than signals on Market Street in the wealthier and whiter neighborhood of Ballard.

The walk signal at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South 51st Street turned to a red hand fast enough that 73-year-old Dac Huynh had to rush to reach the far curb. She stopped on the sidewalk to rearrange her shopping bags after crossing the street.

"It's not enough time for me," she said. "I'm scared when I cross in there."

The study said pedestrians would have to walk, on average, 2.4 feet per second to make it across a crosswalk in Ballard before the signal turned to "don't walk," versus 3.7 feet per second at four Rainier Avenue intersections.