Picture This!
What's
new this week in transportation
Technology for pedestrian safety
  The
flashing of new LED lamps embedded in the roadway (left) can't be captured by
the camera but it's very visible at the eye level of drivers, warning
them to slow and stop at crosswalks. Pedestrians activate the "Lightguard"
flashers by pressing a button (right). The four white dots below the
figure of the pedestrian also blink in a line.
Technology is playing a role in improving the safety
of pedestrians. The
first of several pedestrian
safety improvements in the Juanita-Woodinville area was activated on May
31st--a
lighted, flashing crosswalk across Juanita-Woodinville Way Northeast at NE
143rd Place.
Flashing light-emitting diode (LED) lamps have been
embedded in raised traffic buttons along both sides of the
crosswalk. The lights flicker brightly for 20 seconds once a
pedestrian pushes a button mounted on the sidewalk. 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, alert
drivers of the need to protect the lives of pedestrians ahead. The
first such "Lightguard" warning system was installed
in White Center last year.
"This project – and others soon to follow –
was undertaken 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," said
King County Executive Ron Sims.
Sims met with several of the community
members who pushed for additional safety improvements in the
Juanita-Woodinville area. Together, they watched as the new lighted
crosswalk was switched on.
"This is the beginning of many improvements
that are part of our recommendations for public safety in the
Juanita-Woodinville area," said Edie Thornton, spokesperson for the
Juanita-Woodinville Way Neighborhood Community Advisory Group.
"It has been very gratifying to work together with other community
members and King County in this process to achieve real
improvements."
The crosswalk pictured above is the first of three
such flasher systems to be installed by the county along
Juanita-Woodinville Way this year, at a cost of about $17,000 each. The project was one of the top priority
recommendations [Acrobat .pdf file, 54 KB]
from the Juanita-Woodinville Way Neighborhood Community Advisory
Group. The collaboration will result in other improvements to be constructed this year,
including:
- Juanita-Woodinville Way in the vicinity of NE 136th
Street and the Safeway store
- Install a
pedestrian-activated crosswalk with in-pavement lighting and additional
pedestrian enhancements;
- Northeast 140th Street and
Juanita-Woodinville Way - Install a
pedestrian-activated crosswalk with in-pavement lighting and additional
pedestrian enhancements, plus relocate bus stop;
- Juanita-Woodinville Way at NE 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;
- NE 140th Street from 108th Avenue NE west to
existing trail – Construct sidewalks on
the north side of the roadway;
- NE 132nd Street and 100th
Avenue NE – Add a westbound right turn
lane to improve traffic flow.
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 county has been a pioneer in the use
of LED lamps in traffic lights and pedestrian crossing indicators. The LEDs last
more than 12 times longer and use up to 90 percent less electricity, and
the increased intensity of the new lamps make it easier to see pedestrian crossing
signals from a distance. Green reflective tape on school crossing
sign posts has also increased visibility and improved safety.
And
in response to demand from citizens throughout the county, two additional
speed trailers have been deployed to remind drivers of the need to watch
their speeds on arterials and residential streets. If you're
interesting in having one deployed in your neighborhood, or have other
concerns about traffic in the unincorporated areas of King County, contact
the King County Traffic
Engineering Section at (206) 296-6596.
Related links
"New
safety features on Juanita-Woodinville Way," Northwest News, June 4,
2001
"Flashing
crosswalk activated on road where 2 teens died," Eastside Journal,
May 31, 2001
Recommendations of the
Juanita-Woodinville Way Neighborhood Community Advisory Group, May 3, 2001
[Acrobat .pdf file, 54 KB]
King County's WALK
SMART pedestrian safety homepage
King County's "Walk
Our Children to School Week" homepage
"King County unveils programs to reduce pedestrian
accidents," news release, March 7, 2000
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