The city of Champaign is spending more than $100,000 to install a new traffic signal on Bradley Avenue between Hedge Road and Redwood Drive, and the signal will be the first of its kind in the state.
The new signal will be at the crosswalk for the Developmental Services Center (DSC), 1304 W. Bradley Ave., in Champaign. The center is a nonprofit organization that has services for people with disabilities.
“We really feel it will be a benefit to the area,” said Janice McAteer, director of development at the center. “There is a lot of foot traffic because the neighborhood people use the bus stops on both sides of the street, in addition to people who come to our building.”
The contract price for building and wiring the device is $106,340, said Chris Sokolowski, a civil engineer in the Champaign public works department. The Champaign City Council voted 9-0 to accept the bid at a Sept. 1 meeting.
“The new HAWK (high-intensity activated crosswalk) signal will have a signal that turns solid yellow, then red after a pedestrian hits a button,” Sokolowski said. “It gives vehicles a red, so they’re required to stop.”
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The crosswalk now has a flashing yellow light and a “Yield to Pedestrian” sign. Sokolowski said HAWK signals have been used successfully in Tucson, Ariz., and Alexandria, Va., but it is a first in Illinois.
Tom Bruno, council member at large, said the new traffic signal is different than others in the city and will help make the area safer.
“DSC is in the middle of the block where pedestrians have to cross four lanes of traffic,” Bruno said. “We are going to spend a lot of money to spiff up the crosswalk because this really is a special situation.”
Deborah Frank Feinen, council member at large, said the signal was necessary, but would only be implemented once.
“They’re expensive and we can’t afford to put one in at every intersection,” Feinen said.
Sokolowski said safety for residents in the area has been a concern for years, but a fatality in 2007 caused the city to re-examine the issue.
“It really was initiated by the pedestrian fatality,” said Rene Dunn, spokeswoman for the Champaign police department. “A passenger was hit by a vehicle as he was getting off the bus.”
McAteer said the installation of the new traffic signal was not connected to the pedestrian fatality.
“Safety’s been a concern of ours for years, and something needed to be done,” she added.
Sokolowski said the new traffic signal will alert pedestrians and drivers and make crossing the street safer.
“Cars just drive too fast in that corridor,” Sokolowsi said. “We’ve worked for years to make it safe.”
