Mesa puts up new crossing lights

Mesa has introduced a new type of crossing into its pedestrian-safety repertoire.

The city’s Transportation Department installed the first set of “pedestrian-hybrid beacons” on Sossaman Road, south of Inverness and Juanita avenues, this month.

“Sossaman Road traditionally didn’t have as high volumes (of pedestrians) as it does today. It’s been growing,” said Avery Rhodes, a city engineer. “There’s a golf course (Desert Sands) that’s on each side of Sossaman ... so there’s usually either pedestrians or people with golf carts. That was motivation for that particular site.”

The crossings, pioneered in Tucson about 10 years ago, were approved for nationwide use in 2009, according to Rhodes. They’ve popped up in Phoenix, Tempe and other Valley cities.

“The advantage is that, during the ‘walk’ period for the pedestrian, it’s red for the motorist. Then, when it goes flashing ‘don’t walk’ for pedestrians, it does a ping-ponging red for motorists,” Rhodes said.

Pedestrian-hybrid beacons are slightly less costly than traditional traffic signals because they require fewer poles to be installed, according to the city. Rhodes could not immediately provide a cost estimate for the Sossaman project, saying the numbers were being finalized.

Two more crossings are being installed on Mesa Drive, between 10th Avenue and U.S. 60, as part of a larger street project under construction there.

The Mesa Drive crossings are expected to be activated this year.