In an attempt to increase safety on the roads, Hawaii is planning for a rapid expansion of raised pedestrian crosswalks based off new data that shows the traffic measures are working to reduce crashes.
The first raised crosswalks were installed in 2019 in Kalihi.
According to transportation officials, there are now over 130 in the state with more on the way.
“At the end of the day, raised pedestrian crosswalks are about saving lives,” said state Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. He added that the state and city will install nearly 60 more raised crosswalks in the next year.
According to Sniffen, communities worried that the raised crosswalks slowing traffic have seen fewer crashes since installing them.
A Nanakuli stretch averaged 11 crashes a year before the speed humps and five in the year after.
“That’s not just Nanakuli. That’s in the 134 locations we building them in the state. Based on that, it’s working,” said Sniffen.
A crosswalk outside Hale Keiki private school in Salt Lake is up next.
There are 10 raised crosswalks in Kailua and Kaneohe with a new one to be installed on Kamehameha Highway outside the Windward City Shopping Center.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HIDOT) says each raised pedestrian crosswalk costs between $50,000 to $150,000.
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Source: HawaiiNewsNow.com
