Eugene’s 10th flashing pedestrian crossing signal has been activated on Green Acres Road near Applewood Lane, and more pedestrian enhancements are in the works.
The “rectangular rapid flashing beacon,” sometimes called a “stutter-flash signal, is a highly visible signal that alerts drivers that a pedestrian is crossing the street. The pedestrian activates the signal by pressing a button. The signal also emits audible information to help blind pedestrians find the button and to let them know when the lights are flashing.
The beacons and a concrete pedestrian island in the middle of the street are designed to help local residents, many of them seniors, cross busy Green Acres Road to the grocery stores, restaurants and businesses in the Delta Oaks Shopping Center. The crossing is also located near a transit stop to provide a safe crossing for bus riders.
The pedestrian crossing on Green Acres is one of several bicycle-pedestrian improvements constructed this summer by Wildish Construction, working under contract to the Eugene Public Works Department. The total estimated cost of the improvements is approximately $475,000, which is funded primarily by the 2012 voter-approved bond measure to fix city streets and make bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The substantially completed projects include a ramp to connect the sidewalk to the parking lot at Amazon Community Center, widened passageways for bicycles and pedestrians at two of the gated entrances to the Lane County Fairgrounds, and a new pedestrian-activated red light on 30th Avenue near University Street. The new signal on 30th Avenue is awaiting some additional electrical work and is expected to be working in the next several weeks. The project also includes building a sidewalk on Acorn Park Street between 14th Avenue and Acorn Park cul de sac starting next week.
Other locations with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons are on Chambers Street at 15th Avenue, on Agate Street at 22nd Avenue, on Hilyard Street at 28th Avenue, on 30th Avenue at Alder Street, on River Road at Knoop Lane and Owosso Street, on Bailey Hill Road, and two on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard at Autzen Stadium.
Locations soon to get enhanced pedestrian crossing features such as rapid flashing beacons and center-lane islands include First Avenue at Monroe Street, Jefferson Street at 22nd Avenue, and 18th Avenue at Friendly Street.