Solar Powered Flashing Pedestrian Signage Installed
The safety of community members around the commercial corridor has always been a focus for the Crisol Corridor Business Improvement District (BID). Pedestrian crossing along West Oklahoma Avenue has been notoriously dangerous, and the need for improved safety signage was noted by the BIDs Executive Board. Recently the BID purchased solar powered flashing pedestrian signage to address the safety concerns of the community.
To maximize the effectiveness of the safety improvement, the board decided to invest in Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB), instead of standard flashing beacons. RRFBs enhance safety by reducing crashes between vehicles and pedestrians at unsignalized intersections and mid-block pedestrian crossings by increasing driver awareness of potential pedestrian conflicts. The RRFB design differs from the standard flashing beacon by utilizing a different shape, much faster rapid-pulsing flash rate, and a brighter light intensity. According to the DOT, one study has shown that the installation of RRFBs can reduce pedestrian crashes by 47%.
On October 2, 2020, the City of Milwaukee DPW assisted the BID with the installation of the new crosswalk signage at South 10th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue. The two-sided RRFB signs have been placed on both sides of this historically dangerous intersection in front of Zoblacki Elementary School.
