TUCSON, Ariz. — City of Tucson crews started the installation process for a new HAWK light in Midtown on Monday.
There are more than 100 HAWK, or High Intensity Activated Crosswalks in Tucson. Overhead lights tell drivers to stop, and that a pedestrian or bicyclist is crossing.
RELATED: Understanding HAWK Lights
Data shows more than 90 percent of drivers stop at HAWKs, according to Mike Graham, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation.
"When you have just the painted crosswalks, a lot of times, pedestrians will stand there for quite a long time waiting for a motorist to stop to let them safely cross a roadway," Graham said.
Crews began work on Dec. 2 for a new HAWK to go up at 22nd Street and Belvedere Avenue.
RELATED: Pedestrian beacons to be installed in Tucson's most dangerous crosswalks
The City maintains a list of possible locations for HAWK crossings based on a number of different factors. Those include crash data, speed limits, bicycle deaths, and nearby parks or schools.
RELATED: Tucson Police trying new tactics to prevent deadly crashes as deaths continue to surge
In 2016, 22nd and Belvedere ranked at the top of the list of 144 candidate locations for a HAWK.
Each HAWK crossing costs between $250,000 and $300,000. They are funded by locally by the Regional Transportation Authority, and federally by the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
