City to Use Grant Funds for Two Pedestrian Safety Projects

The city will use funds from a $1.6 million Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 10 Grant to fund two projects.

In total, $244,500 will be used for the design and construction of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) on Glenarm Street at Euclid Avenue, Sunnyslope Avenue at Orange Grove Boulevard, and Raymond Avenue at Grandview Street.

RRFBs, which are used at crosswalks that are not controlled by stop signs or traffic signals, provide motorists with a flashing warning that a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk.

The intersection of Sunnyslope Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard will include overhead flashing RRFBs to provide additional warning on this multi-lane arterial street.

An additional $1.3 million will be used to provide for the design and implementation of leading pedestrian interval (LPI) signal timing and installation of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at up to 94 signalized intersections along eight city corridors:

Colorado Boulevard
Lake Avenue
Fair Oaks Avenue
Los Robles Avenue
Marengo Avenue
Walnut Street
Washington Boulevard
Lincoln Avenue

Implementation of LPI signal timing activates the “walk” indication between four and seven seconds before the parallel vehicular movement receives a green signal.

This allows pedestrians to enter the crosswalk and establish right-of-way prior to turning vehicles entering the intersection. Implementation of LPI requires the installation of accessible pedestrian signals to audibly alert visually impaired pedestrians of the activation of the “walk” indication.

The HSIP provides funds to states to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on public roadways. The Caltrans Division of Local Assistance manages California’s share of HSIP funds. Local HSIP projects are identified on the basis of crash experience, crash potential, crash rate, or other data-supported means.