News Release

Release date: June 18, 2001

Two more in-pavement flashing crosswalks ready for Juanita-Woodinville Way

Two more pedestrian safety improvements are ready for activation in the Juanita-Woodinville area, following through on recommendations from local citizens.

• Operation began Monday, June 18, for a pedestrian-activated crosswalk with in-pavement lighting at Northeast 140th Street and Juanita-Woodinville Way. A bus stop was also relocated to give motorists a better view of riders getting off the bus.
• Operation is set to begin next Monday, June 25, on another pedestrian-activated crosswalk with in-pavement lighting at Northeast 136th Street and Juanita-Woodinville Way, near the Safeway store.

The installations are similar to the in-pavement crosswalk lights and overhead crosswalk flasher systems activated on May 31st at Northeast 143rd Street and Juanita -Woodinville Way.

All three projects were completed by King County in response to the outpouring of concern from local residents following the tragic deaths of two student pedestrians on Juanita-Woodinville Way in the past two years.

Flashing light-emitting diode (LED) lamps have been embedded in raised traffic buttons along both sides of the crosswalks. The lights flicker brightly for 20 seconds once a pedestrian pushes a button mounted on the sidewalk (pictured above). Although small, the lights are aimed at the eye level of oncoming motorists, and together with the more familiar overhead crosswalk sign with flashing lights, they alert drivers of the need to protect the lives of pedestrians ahead. The four white dots below the figure of the pedestrian also blink in a line. The first such "Lightguard" warning system installed by King County was activated in White Center last year.

Safety was improved at each crosswalk at a cost of about $17,000 each. King County will use another technology -- solar- and battery-powered portable cameras -- to study the effectiveness of the Lightguard installations, observing how they work for both drivers and pedestrians.

The projects were among the top priority recommendations from the community and the Juanita-Woodinville Way Neighborhood Community Advisory Group. The collaboration between King County and the community will result in other improvements to be constructed this year, including:

• Juanita-Woodinville Way at Northeaest 145th Street - pedestrian and signal improvements, lighting and the addition of a southbound right turn lane;

• 108th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 140th Street and Juanita-Woodinville Way -- complete sidewalks on the west side of the roadway;

• Northeast 140th Street from 108th Avenue Northeast west to existing trail -- build sidewalks on the north side of the roadway;

• Northeast 132nd Street and 100th Avenue Northeast -- add a westbound right-turn lane to improve traffic flow.

See an online feature on "Technology for Pedestrian Safety"

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