ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The work is almost done. The city is getting ready to turn on one of Albuquerque’s most unique and least-known traffic signals in one of the busiest areas of town. So, will it work to make the road safer?
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The new HAWK signal and pedestrian crossing on Indian School near Louisiana will be turned on by the end of the month. The city is already reminding walkers and drivers how to use them.
“Hawk signals are pretty awesome because they help pedestrians cross at a red light. It is a red light if you see it go off, we want to remind people always when you see those going off you do have to stop just like you would at a regular red light,” said Public Information Officer for the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Municipal Development Dan Mayfield.
The HAWK signal near an ART bus stop aims to help people cross Indian School between Target and one of the entries into the Uptown shopping center. The city expects the signal to be turned on by the end of the month. “This is a neighborhood that is pedestrian friendly. We’re trying to make it even more so,” said Mayfield.
Nearby, the city also revamped the Louisiana Blvd. and Indian School Rd. intersection, removing a free-flowing right turn that too many drivers would take too fast. While the new HAWK signal is just 300 feet past the main intersection, the city is hopeful it will change driver and pedestrian behavior for the better.
Mayfield added, “What we want people to do is when you walk up, you just hit the button. You give it a couple of seconds. You will see it cycles through and then the lights on top here will turn red and you’ll get a walking signal to cross. It’s about 30 seconds and then it will cycle back to green for the drivers.”
There are just a dozen other HAWK signals around town. The city admits the new Uptown signal may take some getting used to, but they also said it’s timed to work with the nearby streetlights.
A local bike advocacy group, Bike ABQ said they hope the signal is a safer option. “Having this responsive HAWK signal really makes it safer and more convenient for pedestrians to cross in a safe manner,” said Advocacy Chair with Bike ABQ Patrick Martin.
The city said starting on Friday, electricians will be finishing up the lights with the goal of getting the signal running before February. The city said each HAWK signal costs about $700,000.