Pedestrian Safety Signals Activated For Start Of School

OAKLAND, CA — Oakland officials announced Monday that they have activated new street-crossing enhancements aimed at increasing safety for pedestrians in time for the beginning of the new school year.

Speaking at a news conference at Markham Elementary School at Krause and 73rd avenues near the Eastmont Town Center in East Oakland, Mayor Libby Schaaf and other city officials said the improvements will calm vehicular traffic and improve access, mobility and safety for all users, including school-aged children, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Oakland Department of Transportation director Ryan Russo said the department has incorporated a new type of traffic signal called "pedestrian hybrid beacons," or PHBs, which also are known as HAWK for High-intensity Activated crosswalk beacons.

Russo said the beacons strike a balance on streets where a traditional four-way traffic signal might not be appropriate, but where pedestrians need traffic control signals to help them cross the street safely.

She said they are most often used at crossings where vehicle and pedestrian traffic is low except at certain times of day, such as when students are walking to school.

"No parent should have to fear for their children's safety while they're walking to school," Russo said in a statement. "Improvements like these should help parents in all parts of Oakland rest a little more easily."

The new signals have been recently installed at six locations in Oakland.Oakland officials said the signals are accompanied by additional traffic safety improvements that include corner curb extensions, improved or new sidewalks, curb ramps, speed feedback signs, crosswalks, signing and striping, speed tables, speed bumps and median refuge islands.

In addition to Markham Elementary School, schools that have seen safety improvements or are in the process of receiving them are Laurel Elementary School, Fruitvale Elementary School, The Global Family Elementary
School, EnCompass Academy and the Fred Korematsu Discovery Academy.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock