PLANO -- It is no small task to navigate across Alma Drive in Plano during rush hour traffic. It's a heavily traveled road, which made it the prime spot for a new piece of technology called the HAWK signal.
"It only activates as needed, whereas a full signal operates more systematically," said Christina Sebastian, the trails system planner for the city of Plano.
The City of Plano sent the following release on the new signal:
"This signal will remain dark for traffic along Alma Drive until a trail user presses the crosswalk button. It then places a request in the timing that will coordinate with other signals and turn the HAWK red, requiring traffic on Alma Drive to stop at the trail crossing. After enough time for most users to cross the street, it will turn dark to allow traffic on Alma Drive to begin moving again."
"I came by the other night and saw that it was on. I said, 'Im gonna try it,'" Bob Hughes, who lives near the Bluebonnet Trail, said.
The City has identified spots near the Bluebonnet Trail and other trails for this technology. Imagine trying to cross six lanes of traffic without help, like along Alma Drive on the Bluebonnet Trail. The HAWK Signal even communicates with the other signals along Alma Drive making sure traffic moves smoothly.
"It operates as part of a coordinated timing system, so it works with the other signals," Sebastian said.
We saw that some drivers were confused over when to proceed through the crosswalk. The signs on the light read to do so with caution during blinking red lights. The City got calls from people saying the lights were out when in reality, it's only dark because a pedestrian hasn't activated the light.
"This will give them an opportunity to get across safely," Hughes said about the students who use the trail to get to school, and the many people who use the nearby fields on the weekends.
The City of Plano is considering five more HAWK signals in the future. It may be a luxury-turned-necessity as Plano continues to grow.