PHX Reporter

District 8 Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington joined community members and Street Transportation Director Joe Brown to commemorate the activation of Phoenix's 90th pedestrian signal crossing on Tuesday. The newest signal, formally referred to as a HAWK (High-intensity Activated crossWalK), is located at 20th Street and Broadway Road.

The project to install a HAWK at this location was led by community advocates following a fatal car-pedestrian, hit-and-run collision in December 2019, involving 51-year-old victim Tanya Karim. Family members and friends of Karim participated in today's activation event and ceremonial crossing. The hit-and-run is unsolved and Phoenix Police detectives are still seeking information. Community members are encouraged to contact Silent Witness.

This is the 47th HAWK to be activated in Phoenix since 2019 and the fifth since June 2023. More are scheduled to be added to the city's transportation network in the coming months. Phoenix's first two HAWKs came online in August 2009 – one at 7th Avenue and Glenrosa Avenue and the other on 19th Avenue at the Thunderbird High School crosswalk.

A HAWK signal features pedestrian triggered yellow-red-flashing red beacons and provides a safe crossing point for people walking and riding bicycles near busy intersections and mid-block locations. A HAWK operates similarly to a standard traffic signal, minus a green-signal light, and remains "dark" until a push button is activated by a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Motorists should respond to the yellow and solid red lights in the same manner as any other traffic signal. After stopping for the red light, motorists may proceed through the crossing area during the flashing red light interval only when safe to do so without risk to those walking or riding a bike.

  

For additional information about how a HAWK pedestrian signal crossing works and where they are located citywide, visit the Street Transportation Department's HAWK webpage.

Original source can be found here.