For Immediate Release: July 10, 2014

Contact: Charlie Specht

632-4120 x 3033/ 515-5556 (cell)
cspecht@village.williamsville.ny.us

Williamsville Village Trustees, Activists Call on NYS
DOT to Put Pedestrians Before Vehicles, Place
H.A.W.K Signal on Main Street in Village Core
Standing in traffic sewer, they urge DOT to OK key part of Picture Main Street plan

Williamsville, N.Y. Williamsville Village leaders Thursday called on the state Department of
Transportation to approve a pedestrian-activated H.A.W.K. signal as part of the Picture Main
Street plan to make the village safer and more walkable for pedestrians.

Standing with regional pedestrian activists as cars whizzed by on Main Street, they reiterated
the importance of the H.A.W.K. signal, which is under review by the DOT after the agencys
recent pedestrian counts in the Main Street core.

As pedestrian use of Main Street has become more vibrant over the past couple years, the
issue of mid-block crossing has become more and more prevalent and extremely dangerous,
especially at night, said Village Trustee Dan DeLano.

DeLano, a key pedestrian advocate since his time as a village volunteer, called the section of
five-lane road where the crossing is proposed a hot spot for accidents.

No one should feel like they are in a Frogger game while trying to cross this street, DeLano
said. People should own their crossing of Main. The crosswalks at Mill and at Cayuga do not
provide a purely safe crossing. They have traffic in four directions with cars constantly blocking
the crosswalks.

While the village has worked cooperatively with the DOT to design the $3 million Picture Main
Street plan, the DOT has yet to approve the key pedestrian H.A.W.K. signal, a central
component of the plan.

The H.A.W.K. signal, new to New York State, functions different than a regular traffic signal in
that it is controlled by pedestrians, not timers, and allows pedestrians to cross safely without the
safety hazards of traditional crossings. The beacons are used successfully in many states.

The signal would function much like the makeshift crosswalk on display by the Amherst Police
Thursday to deal with crowds from the busy Old Home Days festival happening this week. The
system allowed for safe pedestrian crossings while still accommodating the 40,000 daily
automobiles on Main Street.

Main Street is not a highway but its wide lanes and straight direction make it act like a highway
because people drive to the geometry of the road, said George Grasser, president and CEO of
Partners for a Livable Western New York.
The State DOT last month conducted pedestrian counts to determine whether the H.A.W.K.
signal was warranted. However, these counts did not include weekends when established
activities like the Williamsville Farmers Market create increased pedestrian and vehicular
activity.
Village leaders say these activities should be taken into consideration. The $2.5 million Picture
Main Street plan was approved by the state earlier this year. A decision on the H.A.W.K. signal
will be made later this year by the DOT.
People should not have to be fearful when they cross the street in a village like Williamsville,
said Grasser, who helped to organize the recent Congress for the New Urbanism conference in
Buffalo. The safety and comfort of pedestrians and the vibrancy of the Village must be given a
higher priority. The proposed HAWK signal is one step in the right direction.
About H.A.W.K Beacons:

A HAWK beacon (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon) is a traffic signal used to stop
road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. It is officially known as a "pedestrian hybrid
beacon". Unlike an ordinary traffic signal, the HAWK beacon only lights when activated by a
pedestrian who wishes to cross.
Generally, activation is by a push-button. The HAWK beacon first flashes yellow, then displays
steady yellow, and finally steady red over a period of several seconds. Pedestrian signal heads
at either end of the crosswalk display the upraised hand (don't walk) signal until the HAWK
beacon displays the steady red signal. At this time, the pedestrian heads display the walking-
person (walk) indication.
As at conventional signalized crossings, the pedestrian signals display flashing "don't walk"
indications when typical pedestrians no longer have enough time to cross before the HAWK
beacon releases cross traffic. At the same time as the "don't walk" indication, the HAWK beacon
displays a flashing red indication to vehicular traffic (the equivalent of a stop sign, indicating that
vehicles on the roadway must stop), and may proceed after yielding to pedestrians in the
crosswalk. When vehicle traffic is about to restart, the pedestrian signal goes to steady "don't
walk". Then, the HAWK beacon goes dark and the pedestrian signal remains in "don't walk"
mode until the signal is activated by another pedestrian.
About Picture Main Street:
A Village of Williamsville initiative to improve the pedestrian experience on Main Street
with $3 million in improvements.
Improves the walkability of Main Street and creates a safer environment for motorists
and pedestrians.
Allows for an environment that is more supportive of economic development and
community life.
Creates a signature street identity with bulb-outs, pedestrian refuge islands and crossing
signal, crosswalks and street greenery.
Includes a Village Square and second shopping district on Spring Street anchored by
the historic Williamsville Water Mill and the natural beauty of Glen Park and Glen Falls.
Where Picture Main Street stands:
Cost of $3.6 million for the Main Street component -- awarded a $2.5 million New York
State Transportation Enhancement Grant.
Village will match $500,000 of TEP grant but requires an additional $564,000 to close
funding gap for the project.
Currently seeking state approval for the mid-block, pedestrian-activated H.A.W.K.
signal, a central component of the plan to provide a safer crossing for
pedestrians.
Design work is underway on majority of project, while construction is expected to begin
in 2015. Village has added staff to help construction process flow smoothly with village
business activity and to ensure uninterrupted commerce.
2
nd
Annual Village Block Party on Aug. 16 to build momentum for the project, which is
widely popular among residents and businesses. Main Street will be closed from Cayuga
to Mill streets.
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