HAWK signal on GW Parkway on 11/18?

[bobco85]

I saw this on the BikeArlington Facebook page and was surprised to see it hasn’t been mentioned yet on this forum, so here goes. To me, it sounds like a HAWK signal will be used, so I am very excited to see this. (EDIT: It will not be a HAWK signal because drivers are not being forced to stop when it is activated. My excitement level is a bit lower because of it, but a flashing yellow light would still help alert drivers.)

George Washington Memorial Parkway News Release

George Washington Memorial Parkway Seeks Public Feedback on Temporary Flashing Beacon Warning System

McLean, VA – The National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, will be temporarily installing a flashing beacon warning system at the trail crosswalk of the northbound lanes of the Parkway, just prior to Arlington Memorial Bridge, one mile north of I-395. Temporary installation is planned to the week of November 18th and be in place for approximately thirty days as a trial to help inform the upcoming Environmental Assessment (EA) process that will evaluate long-term safety and traffic improvements in the area.

The purpose is to improve safety and increase awareness by slowing down traffic when pedestrians and bicyclists intend to cross the Parkway. Trail users can activate the flashing beacon and notify motorists of their intention to cross the Parkway. Trail users need to be aware that the flashing beacon is a warning, not a stop signal.

The George Washington Memorial Parkway is accepting public feedback on the effectiveness of the system from Monday, November 18th, 2013 to Friday, January 17th, 2014. Comments may be submitted electronically on the project website at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/warningsystem. Written comments may be mailed to: Superintendent, George Washington Memorial Parkway, c/o Turkey Run Park, McLean, VA 22101.

Public involvement in the Environmental Assessment process is expected to take place in early 2014. If you are interested in participating in the EA process, please send your email to kate_barrett@nps.gov .

Topic

[mstone]

@KLizotte 71093 wrote:

Let’s face it. It’s a piece of roadway that should not have a crosswalk to begin with, rather a bridge or tunnel, so it is unclear from a safety and legal standpoint whether drivers should be encouraged to stop at all even though there is a crosswalk. Slow down, definitely.

This is why the signal should actually be a HAWK, with a big red light–because a red light is the only TCD that drivers and police understand anymore.

[DaveK]

Another night, another positive experience at the crosswalk using the beacon.

[mstone]

BSNYC summed the situation up very nicely the other day:

Quote:

This reinforces my increasingly strong belief that it’s actually safer to jaywalk. See, when you’re in a crosswalk you’re relying on drivers (yes, fine, and cyclists too) to stop … However, when you’re jaywalking, at least you know nobody’s going to be stopping, and if they do happen to stop for you it’s just a bonus.

Basically, trusting these fuckers to do what they’re supposed to is only going to get you in trouble.

[bobco85]

I did a quick video of my experience with the various crossings yesterday. To be honest, I was shocked at how well the flashing beacons worked, as traffic stopped so immediately that I had to pick my lower jaw up from the ground to actually cross.

[video=youtube_share;gZQ96AOq-G4]http://youtu.be/gZQ96AOq-G4[/video]

[KLizotte]

I have yet to try out the beacons in person. I wonder if they would be bright enough during summer?

[JimF22003]

I didn’t cross it yesterday, but did ride past there on the MVT. I saw a runner and a biker waiting to cross, and neither of them knew (or thought) that they should push the button to make the light flash.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I rolled through there today hoping to use this, but there were no cars on the GWMP, so I didn’t have to stop

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@JimF22003 71321 wrote:

I didn’t cross it yesterday, but did ride past there on the MVT. I saw a runner and a biker waiting to cross, and neither of them knew (or thought) that they should push the button to make the light flash.

Rode through yesterday after WABA Cider Ride. Yellow button is electronic (vs. physically depress). Does it work with gloves? Because the signs face oncoming traffic, and are between you and the traffic, you can’t tell if they’re doing anything–presumably they are, but I saw no way to confirm.

[Justin Antos]

I tried the new light the other day, and it worked really, really well. Both lanes of traffic came to a quick halt. I was really impressed and felt MUCH safer. Well done, NPS! Let’s keep them in for awhile.

[KLizotte]

@Justin Antos 72024 wrote:

I tried the new light the other day, and it worked really, really well. Both lanes of traffic came to a quick halt. I was really impressed and felt MUCH safer. Well done, NPS! Let’s keep them in for awhile.

Interesting, I don’t think NPS intended for the traffic to come to a full stop. I wonder if they think that is a good thing or a bad thing.

[rcannon100]

If the traffic on the GW-8th Ring of Hell doesnt come to a full stop, I would not put my foot in that road

[mstone]

@KLizotte 72047 wrote:

Interesting, I don’t think NPS intended for the traffic to come to a full stop. I wonder if they think that is a good thing or a bad thing.

They explicitly didn’t want traffic to stop, that’s why they didn’t put in a HAWK. I wonder if they’ll put up a message board warning cars not to stop for pedestrians.

[consularrider]

@mstone 72063 wrote:

They explicitly didn’t want traffic to stop, that’s why they didn’t put in a HAWK. I wonder if they’ll put up a message board warning cars not to stop for pedestrians.

However, the also added a “Yield here for pedestrian sign” about ten feet before the crosswalk.

[bobco85]

@mstone 72063 wrote:

They explicitly didn’t want traffic to stop, that’s why they didn’t put in a HAWK.

From the NPS press release:

The purpose is to improve safety and increase awareness by slowing down traffic when pedestrians and bicyclists intend to cross the Parkway… …the flashing beacon is a warning, not a stop signal.

To me, it seems like the message they are giving is this: We want to slow down traffic with the beacons so that pedestrians will be more likely to have time to start walking into the crosswalk. Once pedestrians are in the crosswalk, traffic would then be required to yield (stopping if necessary) just like for any crosswalk. The difference of course is that a HAWK signal is active whereas the beacons are passive.

I still feel a HAWK signal would be ideal, but so far I think these beacons are making the crossing a lot safer. I would be happy if the installation was permanent.

[dbb]

While the NPS has visited this site to gauge the comments, they have a formal comment process.

As you use the warning light and form an opinion, please go to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=56190 to share your comments with the NPS.

I’d expect comments on your experience with this specific warning beacon will be stronger than observations on such devices in general.

The NPS extended the comment period till early February.

[Author]

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