Crosswalk technology installed at two intersections
Julie Happy, 509.625.7773, jhappy@spokanecity.org
Friday, May 29, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.
Spokane’s first-ever “HAWK lights” will begin operating over the next week. The newly installed signal at Ruby Street and Boone Avenue will be activated on Tuesday, June 2; the light at 18th Avenue and Grand Boulevard is tentatively scheduled to be turned on Wednesday, June 3.
Work began earlier this year on the new High Intensity Activated Crosswalks (HAWK lights). The signals are part of an ongoing pilot program in various locations and traffic situations. The pedestrian traffic between the university and surrounding residential neighborhoods and the numerous retail businesses in the area make Ruby and Boone a good 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.
A 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.
