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Last year, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett saw the aftermath of a pedestrian fatality along Fairland Road in eastern Montgomery County. This morning, he said new traffic signals and crosswalks will make the area safer.

"In this case we're acting, but unfortunately we're acting after the fact," Leggett (D) said at a news conference near the intersection of Fairland Road and Serpentine Way, near the site of last year's deadly collision.

Leggett was on his way to make a speech on pedestrian safety in September when he came upon the crash scene near Fairland Road and Ceder Creek Lane and saw the body of 29-year-old Flavia D'Cunha. Leggett said the incident "renewed my commitment" to pedestrian safety and apologized the roads were not improved sooner.

"Cars were literally flying down this road," said Leggett, who lives nearby in Burtonsville.

After D'Cunha was killed as she attempted to cross Fairland Road, the Fairland Estates Homeowners Association met with county officials to discuss traffic problems in their community.

Residents said it was difficult to make turns or see pedestrians at the intersection of Fairland Road and Cedar Creek Lane because the intersection is situated on a hill and has low visibility on sunny days.

The measures "make the street safer for pedestrians" and shows the county came through on its promises, said Arthur Holmes, director of the county Department of Transportation.

As part of the road improvements, traffic signals are now in place at Fairand Raod's intersection with Tamarack and Serpentine roads. Bus stop improvements include sidewalk connections, crosswalks and signs, the county reported. Tamarack and Serpentine also feature crossing signals.

Speed-reducing measures, including crosswalks and speed limits painted on the road, were put in place along Fairland Road, said K.B. Bilgrami, a traffic engineer for the county's Department of Transportation, who worked on the project .

"I definitely think it will save lives, which was our ultimate goal," aid Mary Depenbrock, a member of the Fairland Estates Homeowners Association.

Fairland Road improvements since September 2008

-Bus stop improvements near Colefair, Fairridge and Westwind drives that include bump-outs to calm traffic, bus pads, sidewalk connections, crosswalks and signs

-Bump-outs with a crosswalk and signs near the Twin Farms Swim Club

-Bump-outs at Partridge Drive

-Traffic signals at Tamarack and Serpentine road