New High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Signals will soon allow pedestrians to more safely cross Lake Washington Boulevard in Renton.
The Renton Public Works Transportation Systems Division was awarded $790,000 through the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority for the project at Lake Washington Blvd. N. The grant will fully fund both the design and construction of the HAWK signals on the boulevard near May Creek Trail and the Eastside Trail Rail Corridor Parking.
There are several of these signals in Renton, said Operations Signal Engineer and Project Manager Flora Lee.
“The advantage of a HAWK signal is different from a beacon,” Lee said. “Those are just flashing yellow so the traffic may not stop. With a HAWK signal, traffic will see the red in front of them and will have to stop so it’s safer for bikers and pedestrians.”
The Federal Highway Administration said research has found driver yielding percentages above 95 percent for the HAWK treatment, even on major streets with multiple lanes or higher speeds.
These signals give traffic a solid red light after the pedestrian pushes the button and then show “ping-ponging” red lights after a certain amount of time. Vehicles must stop and wait at the solid red lights, but then are allowed to cross the crossway after coming to a complete stop on the flashing red.
Lee said the crossing is near a future Sound Transit RapidRide station, and Sound Transit will reimburse the city for the HAWK signal there.
Along with allowing pedestrians to cross Lake Washington Boulevard more safely, Lee said the crossing is also near the Eastrail Corridor, which will be a an uninterrupted 42-mile trail that will connect the Eastside communities of Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville, Snohomish and Redmond for non-motorized recreation and transportation.
Lee said the pedestrian crossing will also serve the May Creek Trail and better connect it to the larger trail Eastrail for pedestrians.
“That stretch of Lake Washington, I don’t think there is any crosswalk nearby and it’s right where the sidewalk ends on the other side, so this is a good location to provide a signal crossing,” Lee said.
In 2024, the Lake Washington Blvd HAWK Signal Project was selected not to exceed a $790,000 Stride Access Allowance Fund grant from Sound Transit. Design is anticipated to begin in late 2025 and be completed in early 2026, according to the consent agenda bill. Construction is anticipated to begin after completion of design in 2026, and the remainder of the awarded grant funding will be obligated by Sound Transit at that time.
