Redmond Makes Plans To Improve Nightime Pedestrian Safety

To address complaints and concerns regarding pedestrian visibility at night or early morning in unprotected crosswalks, city staff began researching supplemental crosswalk lighting to improve pedestrian visibility during periods of darkness.

Staff requested approval to move forward with a pilot project which will bridge the gap between standard streetlights and active devices such as Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB).

The crosswalk locations for the pilot projects are:
 NE 90th St at 161st Ave NE (the crosswalk just west of Coho Café)
 NE 104th St at 172nd Ave NE (near Redmond HS)
 NE 79th St at 169th Ave NE (Anderson Park)

The city evaluated 8 companies and picked Howard Industries. Howard Industries currently offers the best solution to on-demand supplemental illumination for pedestrian walkways and crosswalks. Their large devices (6’) have been in use on business, educational and hospital campuses. Howard Industries created a smaller model "LightPath." It is a more appropriate size (4’) for use at unprotected crosswalks in Redmond.

Fiscal: Estimated Project Costs for three locations Light Path Crosswalk Lights $ 50,000 Design $ 50,000 Construction/Installation $ 180,000 Total $ 280,000 Project Funding Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program $ 280,000

The installation Light Path units are expected by October 2019, prior to daylight saving time.

Source: 6/11/19 Planning & Public Works Council Committee Of The Whole Memo

Reported by Bob Yoder, Redmond Neighborhood Blog