HAWK Signal Comes to Ocean City June 11

A new traffic signal goes live in Ocean City as part of the bicycle friendly pathway this summer.

The city will use the High Intensity Activated crosswalk (HAWK) signal at 9th Street and Haven Avenue beginning June 11, Ocean City Police said Wednesday morning.

The signal helps provide a gap in traffic to make crossing the street safer for pedestrians. Pedestrians will be able to push a button when they reach a busy intersection and cross when the appropriate signal shows up.

Drivers will see a black signal until  pedestrian pushes the button and a flashing yellow light appears. The light then becomes a solid red light, signaling the driver to stop.  When pedestrians have finished crossing, the light becomes a toggling red light before going dark once again.

The signal was first developed in Arizona and installed in 2000. It is used in parts of Arizona, Georgia and Tennessee, among other locations.

Ocean City received a $100,000 grant to install that signal last year.  The city was named a bicycle friendly community in 2012, according to the Ocean City Gazette.

Ocean City Police shared a video about the setup in Tempe, Arizona, which is attached to this post.