MIDDLETOWN – When planning sidewalks and intersections, officials need to take into account pedestrian traffic and that was the topic of a workshop on designing pedestrian safe streets at Middletown City Hall on Monday.

Orange County Planning Department brought in the state Transportation Department and Federal Highway Administration to talk about the issue.

Professional trainer Michael Ronkin said sidewalks are becoming a necessity for pedestrians.

“In a semi-rural area like there, there is sometimes resistance to sidewalks,” he said. But, discussion centered on engineering tools that make it better for pedestrians.

Participants included mayors from Nyack and Wappingers Falls, the Port Jervis city police chief and planners, traffic engineers and public works officials.