Second light to be added at 18th and Grand
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Monday, March 30, 2015 at 12:23 p.m.
A new safety enhancement will connect retail businesses to the north end of the university district.
Work began today on a new “HAWK light” over Ruby Street at the intersection of Boone Avenue. The High Intensity Activated Crosswalk – or “HAWK light” – is part of an ongoing pilot program to test their effectiveness in various locations and traffic situations.
“Using flashing lights at busy crosswalks has seen some early success,” Spokane Mayor David Condon said. “These lights are the next test of their effectiveness in improving pedestrian safety.”
Construction of another HAWK light will begin next Monday at 18th Avenue and Grand Boulevard. The HAWK signal will flash yellow when a pedestrian pushes the signal button, change to solid yellow and then to solid red, which requires all drivers to stop. Drivers can proceed when the red light starts flashing as long as pedestrians have cleared the crosswalk.
The pedestrian traffic between the university and surrounding residential neighborhoods and the numerous retail businesses in the area makes Ruby and Boone a good next location to test their effectiveness. New residential and retail construction in the area will add to the foot and bicycle traffic that already uses the retail corridor.
