This project will add a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) signal to improve pedestrian safety at an existing zebra crosswalk that serves an elementary school, parks, trails and transit bus stops.

The existing zebra crosswalk on 53 Avenue at 201A Street serves over 100 children and other pedestrians per hour who cross the road and travel to and from a nearby elementary school, parks, trails and transit bus stops. The City’s official plans support Vision Zero policies to prioritize vulnerable, non-vehicular road users over automobiles. The City has completed improvements to the crossing over the recent years, including raising of the crosswalk as a speed hump and curb bulges on both sides of 53 Ave to narrow down the street for traffic calming and to shorten the crosswalk length. Despite all these measures, safety concerns are being reported and drivers seem to be failing to notice pedestrians in the crosswalk especially under dark and wet conditions.

Fall and winter months in particular make conditions challenging for pedestrians and drivers due to poor visibility and braking conditions. Pedestrian-activated warning devices in the form of roadside-mounted RRFBs are an effective safety improvement measure for crosswalks. These provide pedestrians a means to attract the attention of approaching drivers in low light and wet road conditions by activating the bright flashing beacons using push buttons.

At this location with relatively high pedestrian volumes and vehicle speeds, RRFBs will be an effective measure to reduce potential future injury crashes involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

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