Just in time for students returning back to school, the City of Santa Rosa, as part of the Fulton Road Widening Improvements project, is installing a HAWK signalized crosswalk on Fulton Road between Piner High School and Youth Community Park. A HAWK beacon is a traffic control device used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross the street. It is officially known as a High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK beacon/signal, and is typically installed at mid-block crossings or at intersections. 

The purpose of a HAWK beacon is to provide protected pedestrian crossings by stopping vehicle traffic only when activated by a pedestrian. The crosswalk signal remains dark until activated by a pedestrian, triggering the warning alternating flashing yellow lights, then solid yellow to inform drivers to prepare to stop. Once the solid red-light changes to alternating flashing red lights, a vehicle may proceed after stopping once the crosswalk is clear. This is the third HAWK beacon crossing installed within the city limits. Installation is expected to be completed by August 16, 2023.

A HAWK signal was originally installed as a pilot program on Montgomery Drive across from Spring Lake Village. City traffic engineers monitored its operation to evaluate its effectiveness and applicability in other mid-block crossings throughout the City. The HAWK signal evaluation proved effective as is evident by the installation of the City's second HAWK signal located at the mid-block crossing of Mendocino Avenue and McConnell across from Santa Rosa Junior College.

Visit HAWK Signal on the City's website for additional information.