As part of an ongoing effort to enhance pedestrian safety on city streets, the city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is set to install more pedestrian crossing signals where warranted. These signals feature pedestrian activated flashing red-yellow-red HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalk) beacons and provide a safe crossing point for pedestrians on busy streets and mid-block locations.
“The safety of Phoenix residents is a top priority, Mayor Greg Stanton said. “As we work to make Phoenix a more walkable and livable city, we’re also working hard to make our streets more pedestrian friendly and safer for everyone on the road.”
Revenues generated by the voter-approved Transportation 2050 sales tax allowed the department to reallocate funding from its capital improvement program, which freed up funding for programs aimed at improving traffic safety. Through a combination of Street Transportation capital improvement program, the Arizona Highway User Revenue/Gas tax and Federal funding, the department is planning to install three to five pedestrian crossing signals per year.
Prior to this year, in addition to those pedestrian crossing signals independently funded by private development, the department was able to fund one to two pedestrian signals per year.
“When voters approved the Transportation 2050 sales tax, they voted for improvements in mobility and safety throughout the city,” said Vice Mayor Thelda Williams, Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “Reallocated funding made possible through dedicated revenue generated by T2050 has allowed the city to install new HAWK beacons citywide at a much faster pace. By the end of this year, there will be 51 HAWK beacons across the city providing our residents a safer way to cross major streets.”
The department recently installed its 40th pedestrian crossing signal at Grand and 11th avenues and is currently installing another pedestrian crossing signal at 35th Avenue and Palm Lane.
The department is also preparing to install an additional 10 pedestrian crossing signals this year. These 10 are currently under final design. Eight out of the 10 are federally-funded pedestrian crossing signals. The locations include:
- 15th Avenue north of Highland Avenue,
- 15th Avenue south of Whitton Avenue,
- Dunlap Avenue at 35th Avenue,
- Lower Buckeye Road west of 72nd Avenue,
- McDowell Road at 34th Street,
- McDowell Road west of 41st Avenue,
- McDowell Road west of 67th Avenue,
- Seventh Avenue at Highland Avenue,
- Seventh Street at Montebello Avenue and
- Van Buren Street east of 36th Street.
