Hybrid Beacon for Bike Route Crossing of Major Street
TUCSON, AZ (PHOTO: TOM THIVENER)
A hybrid beacon, also known as a High-intensity Activated CrossWalk (HAWK), consists of a signal-head with two red lenses over a single yellow lens on the major street, and pedestrian and/ or bicycle signal heads for the minor street. There are no signal indications for motor vehicles on the minor street approaches. Hybrid beacons were developed specifically to enhance pedestrian crossings of major streets. However, several cities have installed modified hybrid beacons that explicitly incorporate bicycle movements. The information provided here focuses on the application of hybrid beacons for bicyclists.
Hybrid beacons are used to improve non-motorized crossings of major streets in locations where side-street volumes do not support installation of a conventional traffic signal (or where there are concerns that a conventional signal will encourage additional motor vehicle traffic on the minor street). Hybrid beacons may also be used at mid-block crossing locations (e.g., trail crossings).
PHOENIX, AZ (PHOTO: WWW.PEDBIKEIMAGES.COM, MIKE CYNECKI)
The hybrid beacon can significantly improve the operations of a bicycle route, particularly along bicycle boulevards. Because of the low traffic volumes on these facilities, intersections with major roadways are often unsignalized, creating difficult and potentially unsafe crossing conditions for bicyclists. Hybrid beacons may be supplemented with a bike signal and signal detection for the minor street approaches to facilitate bicycle crossings.
Benefits
Can be implemented when a conventional signal warrant is not met or where a conventional traffic signal is not desired due to the potential to increase traffic volumes on minor street approaches.
Creates gaps for bicyclists to cross busy streets.
Is more flexible for bicyclists than a full signal as bicyclists do not have to actuate it if they find ample crossing opportunities during off-peak conditions.87
Associated with very high driver compliance (studies show greater than 95% driver compliance with red indications).88
Improves street crossing safety.
Typical Applications
Where bike routes intersect major streets without existing signalized crossings.
Where off-street bicycle or pedestrian facilities intersect major streets without existing signalized crossings.
At mid-block crossings of major roadways with high bicycle or pedestrian volumes.
Suggested signal phasing to serve bicyclists and pedestrians at a minor street crossing of a major street.
SOURCE: CITY OF PORTLAND
Required Features
The MUTCD provides warrants for the use of hybrid beacons based on motor vehicle speed, crossing length, motor vehicle volumes, and pedestrian volumes. These warrants do not explicitly consider bicyclists; however bicyclist crossing volumes may be added to pedestrian crossing volumes for the purposes of evaluating the warrant.89
Engineering judgment and best practices should be used to ensure safe and appropriate signal timing for all phases. Appropriate yellow and red clearance intervals for bicycles should be calculated using the guidance provided for bike signals.
The MUTCD provides standards related to the design and location of hybrid beacons (e.g., mounting location, height, etc.).
Recommended Features
When hybrid beacons are installed to facilitate bicycle movements, a bicycle signal head should be installed in addition to pedestrian signal heads. This allows for safer and more efficient operations that effectively account for the different clearance requirements for pedestrians and bicycles. When used, a bicycle signal head should display a flashing red indication to bicyclists when the hybrid beacon is dark (i.e., the bicycle signal should not rest in dark). This allows bicyclists to treat the intersection as a “Stop” and proceed without the requirement of activating the hybrid signal.
The 2009 MUTCD provides general guidance on establishing the length of flashing yellow and steady yellow phases; this guidance remains the same regardless of whether the hybrid beacon is used for a pedestrian crossing or bicycle crossing.
The operations associated with the clearance intervals for the minor street approaches differ considerably when a hybrid beacon is used to facilitate bicycle crossings as opposed to pedestrian crossings. The MUTCD specifies that the corresponding phase on the major street for the pedestrian clearance interval is alternating flashing red, which allows vehicle to stop and proceed if there is no pedestrian. In particular, because of the speed at which bicyclists can enter the intersection and because many bicyclists will actually speed up when presented with a flashing “Don’t Walk” indication, hybrid beacons should maintain the solid red indication for motorists throughout the full bicycle clearance interval (yellow plus all-red).
The minimum length of the main street “rest in dark” interval should be set as short as possible to minimize bicyclist and pedestrian waiting time. Consider using a shorter minimum main street interval during off-peak periods than during peak periods.
Parking and other sight obstructions should be prohibited for at least 100 feet in advance of and at least 20 feet beyond the marked crosswalk, or site accommodations should be made through curb extensions or other techniques to provide adequate sight distance.90
The installation should include suitable standard signs and pavement markings.91
If installed within a signal system, signal engineers should evaluate the need for the hybrid beacon to be coordinated with other signals.
Optional Features
Due to the unique operational features of hybrid beacons, communities that are installing hybrid beacons for the first time may wish to coordinate installation with a public information campaign to educate roadway users on the operations and legal requirements associated with hybrid beacons.92
PORTLAND, OR
Operations
Hybrid beacon operations are significantly different from the operations of standard traffic control signals. The figure here on the reverse side illustrates the general sequence of phases for a hybrid beacon as applied for pedestrian crossings. The primary difference compared to a standard signal is that a hybrid beacon displays no indication (i.e., it is dark) when it is not actuated. Upon actuation (by a pedestrian or bicyclist on the minor street), the beacon begins flashing yellow, changes to steady yellow, then displays a solid red indication with both red lenses. During the solid red phase, drivers must stop and remain stopped, as with a standard traffic signal.
Prior to returning to no indication, the beacon displays an alternating flashing “wig-wag” red that allows drivers to stop and proceed when clear, as they would with a stop sign. To maximize safety when used for bicycle crossings, this phase should be very short and occur after the pedestrian signal head has changed to a solid “Don’t Walk” indication as bicyclists can enter an intersection quickly.
This application provides a pedestrian crossing without signal control for the side street because signal control on the side street can encourage unwanted additional traffic through the neighborhood.
Fitzpatrick, K. and Park, E.S. (2010). Safety Effectiveness of the HAWK Pedestrian Crossing Treatment. Federal Highway Administration. Publication No. FHWA-HRT-10-042.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Maintenance
Hybrid signals are subject to the same maintenance needs and requirements as standard traffic signals.
Signing and striping need to be maintained to help users understand the relatively unfamiliar traffic control.
Treatment Adoption and Professional Consensus
Hybrid beacons have been implemented in several US cities, including the following:
• Alexandria, VA
• Bloomington, IN
• Fort Collins, CO
• Madison, WI
• Miami, FL
• Phoenix, AZ
• Portland, OR
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Tucson, AZ
• Washington, DC
• West Bloomfield Township, MI