What is a HAWK light? And why do you care?

If you drive east on Johnson and fly around the corner at Blair St to get to East Washington, you might care.

Here’s a somewhat poorly scanned copy of an explanation of the project. And you can read more below.

GETTING STARTED/RUDE ALDERS
Ok, before I get started on this one agenda item at this meeting, let me say. The agenda has a presentation by a developer that went on for an entire hour. They left. After they left, there was essentially, one member of the public, 2 if you count me, maybe a third but I wasn’t sure. They were there for the very last item and they waited over 2 hours to get to it. At some point, the chair (Former Alder Webber) realized the staff had to be there anyways and asked if they wanted to change the order for the waiting public. Alder Skidmore said “nah, lets just go on”. Alders Eagon, Compton and Manaici said nothing and they made the person wait even longer. Interesting definition of “public servant”. I can’t explain why in the world they wouldn’t have taken things out of order for the only member of the public there (unless you count me). It’s just plain rude.

PRESENTATION
Mifflin and Webster
David Dryer, Traffic Engineer explains they are in a rush to get this done. There weren’t many other options out there, and what they arrived at for Mifflin and Webster was a full traffic signal, everyone be able to avail themselves of the signal, it’s important because of the Children’s Museum, the parking ramp and the activity in the area. They are also looking at bump outs and curb extensions as part of it to help pedestrian crossings.

Mifflin and Blair
Blair Street doesn’t warrant a traffic signal, but wanted higher level of crossing treatments, they looked at the signal from Tucson called the HAWK. The signal has been approved nationally, the signal is dark except when cyclist comes up and pushes it. After pushed it starts flashing yellow, then it turns solid yellow, then solid red, then flashing red, then it goes dark until pushed again. They will have bike signal so they know when they can cross. The signal won’t allow cars to move, they want it for bikes and pedestrians. The flashing red means the cars can proceed if the bikes and pedestrians have crossed. They want Blair to be viable for cars to keep people out of the neighborhood. This is as expensive as a traffic signal cuz of bike light needed. They have to get permission to test this light from the feds, but it is likely not a problem. They are also being used in Portland. Webber says also used in College Park Maryland. They point out the drawings in the packet, say it gives you an idea of what it looks like. There will be a countdown pedestrian signal there as well as at Webster. They are kind of on tight timeline with bid process, wanted to show it to you cuz they want to have all signals go through here, you will see plans and specs later. Money is not available, it will need a budget amendment

DISCUSSION
(They forgot about the public) And Webber calls on Alder Manaici before others since it is her district. She says she is happy about it, she says it is an intersection I said they need to do something about, neighborhood identified the intersection as needing work, applauds them for being creative, will help a lot, there are significant trees on the street, with the visibility on how people speed around corner and speed down Blair they need this. She says people wanted a bike boulevard, but they need to get across intersection. [Nice attempt at taking credit for this, but the truth of the matter is that the alders were just informed about the project at the end of last week.]

OH, YEAH, THE PUBLIC
Dan Ross finally speaks at 7:25 and he’s in freaking support. He lives a 125 N Hamilton, his unit overlooks the corner, he sees what happens on Saturdays, cars honking and bikes going the wrong way.

Dryer says he forgot to tell them that Mifflin to the Square is one way going east and they will provide a counterflow bike lane on that block. [Wow, I thought they agreed to do that a year and a half ago] There is some interest from condo owners on how that will work, they will roll that out with Alder Verveer on how it will work.

Ross says that his issue was the signal on the corner has to work with the internal parking ramp because that is the only way some can get to the parking. There are 24 stalls that need ingress and egress there, so it is a concern about how that is implemented. Someone who is opposed that lives in the building is worried about it blinking all night when they are trying to sleep. What hours will it run? He also asks how the signal will work with the counterflow bike lane.

Dryer says they hadn’t thought about that.

Ross asks how to stay involved in the process on this?

Dryer says he’ll send an email and keep involved with Verveer, he points out it is half in Maniaci and half in Verveer’s district.

Maniaci says she is deferring to Verveer and the condo owners that are his residents. [What is she doing for her constituents? Or don’t they matter? I live a block and a half from there and haven’t heard a peep.]

Ross says he has noticed that busy corner does not have the signage that others have, others have overhead and mid-block signage in other locations.

Dryer says those were tests, but going all the way to the big cajones.

Webber reads note from Tim Wong who is also in support, he left, but wrote a note that there are more to bike boulevards than signs, you need to give bikes priority. He notes that they need this at Blair and Main as well.

Dryer says Blair and Main will be getting a signal as well.

Chuck Stawser says it is crritical to get snow cleared effectively, because the only way to activate the light is to reach the button.

Susan DeVos say this will be good for people in wheelchairs too . . .

OK, I GOTTA GO
The conversation indicated its likely to pass, but as I’m leaving, a committee member says that he lived in Tucson and people don’t stop for those lights, they consider them optional and there needs to be a big public education campaign about the lights.

And I leave, have to leave it to others to fill in you . . . oh, wait, there weren’t any reporters there, Webber?

Sounds like education will be important, I worry about bikes flying down the hill, seeing a light for the bikes to cross and not slowing down and cars blowing off the “optional” HAWK light, now that I think about it more. Enforcement of cars stopping is going to be important.

How long before a certain state legislator tries to outlaw HAWK lights like the bike boxes?