It’s the first of its kind in the city of Grand Rapids. And motorists and cyclists will soon encounter this new traffic signal. It will be located on Michigan Street to help with an increase in pedestrian traffic due to a very busy Medical Mile.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve safety for pedestrians as well as for drivers out on the street.”
That’s Grand Rapids Mobile G.R. director, Josh Naramore. He says starting on October 10th, a new signal, known as a “pedestrian hybrid beacon” will be in place to assist pedestrians at a busy crossing on Michigan Street near Baynton Avenue, between Fuller and Plymouth. He says it’s the first of its kind in the city.
“And the reason that this is a little bit different from other traffic signals, is that will not function unless it is activated by a pedestrian that is waiting to cross the street.”
Naramore says this new light or hybrid beacon has come about following a partnership between Spectrum and the Rapid to increase transit service along the Michigan street corridor. It handles a heavy increase in traffic.
“So, that transit bus route has gone from having 50 a day to about a thousand riding it a day and a lot are along that stretch between Fuller and Plymouth. And so, because Michigan Street is five lanes in width with higher traffic volumes and speeds, we needed to look for the best way possible for pedestrians to cross the street, whether they’re getting on the bus or whether they’re getting off the bus.”
The light, or hybrid beacon is controlled by the pedestrian.
“First once the pedestrian hits it, it will be a flashing yellow light, then solid yellow, then red, telling the motorist to stop… then once the motorists stop, that’s when it tells the pedeistrian that it’s safe to cross the street.”
Naramore says for more information on this traffic light and how it works, you can go to grandrapidsmi.gov, where you can find a video that shows how the light works.
