VDOT installs new traffic signals in York County

YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — VDOT has installed new traffic signals to watch people like a hawk, literally.

The HAWK — high intensity activated crosswalk — signals were activated Thursday.

According to VDOT, they’re unlike any other traditional traffic signals in our region and will remain dark to drivers until a pedestrian tries to cross the street.

The signals are located on Bypass Road between Chelsea Road and Commons Way/Palace Lane.

One man who didn’t want to show his face or reveal his name told 10 On Your Side it’s a busy street.

“Most nights, you know, you’re waiting there for a good five minutes trying to get across the road,” he said.

Here’s how the HAWK signal works.

When a pedestrian wants to cross the street, they’ll hit the roadside button.

Then, a flashing yellow light will tell motorists someone wants to cross; a solid yellow tells them to slow down.

After that, double solid red lights indicate someone is crossing the street and all drivers need to stop.

Following that, flashing double red lights signal that drivers may proceed with caution once the crosswalk is clear.

When there are no lights being displayed, drivers can start moving.

The resident I spoke with said no one knew the signals were coming.

“They just showed up one day and just started kind of building in the middle of the street,” he said. “So, everyone was kind of questioning what was going on.”

Even so, he said this is a welcome development for the area.

“I know it’s a busy road and, you know, coming and going both ways,” he said. “And for people to have to stay in the middle lane, the suicide lane, as they call it, stand there waiting for cars to pass, I think it’s very dangerous. I think it’s going to be helpful.”

But because of where he told 10 On Your Side the most accidents occur, there is one change he would’ve liked to have suggested.

“If it were me, I would’ve put it down further this way,” he said, “I think it’ll work either way, as long as there’s a way for people to cross the street.”

10 On Your Side reached out to VDOT with questions about the HAWK traffic signal:

How long has VDOT been planning to use these kinds of signals?

A study was completed in May 2021 to evaluate potential countermeasures to mitigate pedestrian/vehicle conflicts along Bypass Road. The study area for this location included an approximately 1-mile segment of Bypass Road from Richmond Road to Chelsea Road, near Williamsburg.

VDOT worked with York County through the development and implementation of the HAWK signal on this County supported project.

Why did you choose York County, specifically Bypass Road to implement these?

In VDOT’s recent Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, Bypass Road was identified as a “Priority 2” corridor, which are the top one percent of scored corridors. Along the corridor, there are many hotels and restaurants to serve tourists visiting Williamsburg.

The study area’s operational characteristics, surrounding land-uses and crash history all elevate the potential risk to pedestrians and were the reasons for including this location in the pilot study. The field review team identified some potential safety issues and pedestrian needs after the completion of the field review. One issue relates to pedestrian crossing opportunities along the corridor. Pedestrian facilities are located at one intersection (Bypass Road and Richmond Road) on the western end of the corridor.

While there are other signalized intersections along the corridor, there are no other pedestrian crossings on Bypass Road. With the many hotels and restaurants that are frequented by tourists, there are no opportunities to help pedestrians cross Bypass Road and intersecting streets to access these businesses.

There are also bus stops located throughout the corridor that serve as a critical mobility service, particularly for local residents. These pedestrians need to cross the street to access their destination or to access the bus stop across the street on their return trip.

Based on the identified safety issues and needs, the potential countermeasures selected focused on providing pedestrian crossing opportunities and applying measures to help encourage lower operating speeds.

Have there been a number of pedestrian accidents there causing the need for the signal?

Per the May 2021 study, from May 2015 through September 2020, there were 55 crashes, one of which involved a pedestrian. The majority of crashes occurred during daylight (80%), had a rear-end type collision (58%), and involved a vehicle driving straight ahead (54%), indicating potential congestion in the study corridor and frequency of access points. Additionally, 60% of crashes occurred in the westbound travel direction, further indicating crashes could be a result of congestion in the westbound direction.

Per the VDOT Roadway Network System (RNS), between Oct. 31, 2018 and Oct. 31, 2023, there have been two fatal pedestrian crashes and two pedestrian crashes with injuries.

What was the planning process for getting the signals in York County? Was there any sort of cooperation with the people who live there?

Between 2012 and 2016, there were 465 fatal pedestrian crashes on Virginia roads and another 8,176 injury pedestrian crashes. A review of the data indicates that more than 60% of all pedestrian fatal crashes in Virginia during this period occurred on roadways with posted speeds of 40 mph or greater and, in general, pedestrian fatal crashes were more likely to occur on:

• Arterials

• Divided roadways with no control of access

• Roads with four or more lanes

• Posted speeds of 40-45 mph.

With these known risks, VDOT began working with the Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) to conduct a scan and literature review of known pedestrian measures that could be applied in locations with these conditions. This study is part of a larger effort to build off of VTRC’s work, to identify and pilot pedestrian safety improvements on higher speed, higher volume, multi-lane roadways.

Several study corridors were selected for potential pedestrian countermeasure pilot projects through a process of network screening using the following criteria that builds off of the above-identified risk factors:

• VDOT-owned/maintained roadways

• Corridors identified through the first and second versions of the Statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

• Posted speeds of 40 mph or greater

• At least four lanes (undivided roadways) or two lanes (divided roadways)

• Traffic volumes greater than 15,000 vehicles per day.

Ultimately, the final list of locations to receive pedestrian safety countermeasures pilot projects were selected from these screened corridors, and through conversations with the VDOT Districts.

What’s the goal for the HAWK signal?

A HAWK signal provides a protective movement for pedestrians to cross a roadway safely at mid-block locations where a traffic signal is not present. Unlike traditional traffic signals, the HAWK signal will remain dark to motorists until activated by a pedestrian desiring to cross the roadway, allowing for the free flow of traffic when pedestrians are not present.

What’s the benefit of not having the sign on until a pedestrian is there trying to cross the street?

The benefit of not having the signal head activated until a pedestrian is present and trying to cross is that vehicle traffic is only stopped when the HAWK is activated by pedestrian, which assists to maintain the flow of traffic.