Fells Point residents who felt a change in the walk signals there was making their neighborhood less pedestrian-friendly and possibly dangerous got their wish this week: the Baltimore Department of Transportation is restoring the automatic “walk” signals at key intersections.

DOT director Khalil Zaied and Councilman James B. Kraft announced Thursday that seven intersections in the neighborhood will soon have automatic walk signals between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

“We are very pleased with the result and with Councilman Kraft’s leadership on this,” said Rebecca Gershenson Smith, one of the residents who raised the issue, first reported by Baltimore Brew.

Residents noticed earlier this spring that walk signals at intersections with busy east-west streets, like Fleet St. and Eastern Ave., were not illuminating automatically, even when it was technically the proper time to cross.

They said the change, requiring pedestrians to now push a button to get a walk signal, seemed designed to favor the east-west movement of  vehicles but made intersections confusing and difficult for walkers. City officials said the changes were designed to move both drivers and pedestrians more efficiently through the city.

According to the release, the affected intersections include:

* Eastern Ave. at Wolfe, Ann and Washington streets.

* Fleet St. at Wolfe, Ann and Washington streets.

* Gough and Wolfe streets.

In addition to restoring automatic “walk” signals during the day at those spots, the city also promised to restripe crosswalks there and install pedestrian countdown signals, according to the DOT news release. They also plan traffic calming improvements along Bank St., at Wolfe, Ann and Washington streets, the release said.

Also under consideration is a possible change that Kraft said he has long advocated: converting Wolfe and Washington streets to two-way traffic south of Pratt St.

“DOT’s actions are a positive sign of its commitment to developing and maintaining  complete and sustainable street and sidewalk systems in walkable neighborhoods,” said Kraft, who brought city officials and residents together to work out the issue.