Could New Pedestrian Signals Work on Wisconsin Avenue?

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is expanding its use of HAWK signals—which allow pedestrians to push a button to set off flashing lights that stop traffic so they may cross busy streets safely—on crosswalks without signals on high-traffic streets.

Given the high volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Wisconsin Avenue in both Georgetown and Glover Park, the corridor could meet the DDOT pedestrian safety thresholds for a HAWK signal.

Last week, DDOT installed a signal in Cleveland Park on Connecticut Avenue NW between Ordway and Newark streets NW, according to NBC4. The new crosswalk was installed by the Uptowne theater, which encourages significant pedestrian activity in that area of Connecticut Avenue NW.

The signals are similar to a traditional crosswalk at a signaled intersection. A pedestrian needs only to press the button, wait for the appropriate time for the signal to bring traffic to a stop and then cross when the WALK signal appears. Drivers are warned to slow first by yellow lights and then to stop by a red light at the pedestrian crossing. 

Pedestrian safety is at the heart of the new signals, which are now installed at three locations in the district and are slated to expand to several more in the coming weeks.

A DDOT brochure about the signals explains why they are being installed:

District law requires motorists to stop and give the right of way to pedestrians legally within crosswalks. However, DDOT research has shown that on busy, high volume roadways, only about 1 in 4 drivers is willing to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. If appropriate warrants are met, a HAWK signal can be installed on such roadways, which would significantly increase motorist awareness and compliance with pedestrian right-of-way law.

A study of the HAWK signal at Georgia Avenue and Hemlock Street NW showed that on average 97.1 percent of motorists complied with the new signals. When there were issues between pedestrians and vehicles, DDOT found that pedestrians not using the signal were involved in the most incidents.

The HAWK crossing on Georgia Avenue was 750 feet from the nearest signaled intersection. On Connecticut Avenue NW, there is about 1,000 feet between Ordway and Maccomb, DDOT's Pedestrian Program Coordinator George Branyan told NBC4.

Neighborhood listserv conversations in Georgetown and Glover Park have focused on pedestrian safety and traffic concerns along Wisconsin Avenue as well as arterial streets like 37th Street NW.

DDOT is rolling out changes to the intersection of 37th and Tunlaw to improve pedestrian safety, and the lane reductions on Wisconsin Avenue were made, in part, to slow traffic in the name of safety.

And, according to NBC4, DDOT will install 18 new or upgraded pedestrian signals throughout the district over the course of 120 days.

Would you want to see HAWK signals installed on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown or Glover Park? What about 37th Street? Do you think they could be a useful tool?