Manteca’s first hybrid pedestrian beacon system designed to enhance safety while crossing streets will be installed at the intersection of Main Street and Alameda Street.

The pedestrian hybrid beacon  head consists of two red lenses above a single yellow lens.

The lenses remain ”dark“ until a pedestrian desiring to cross the street pushes the call button to activate the beacon.

It then initiates a yellow to red lighting sequence consisting of flashing and steady lights that directs motorists to slow and come to a stop, and provides the right-of-way to the pedestrian to safely cross the roadway before going dark again.

Existing pedestrian beacons in Manteca simply flash yellow.

The hybrid system is typically  used where it is difficult for pedestrians to cross a roadway, such as when gaps in traffic are not sufficient or speed limits exceed 35 miles per hour. 

North Main Street at Alameda Street meets both criteria.

Federal Highway Administration studies show the hybrid beacons — once deployed — have led to a 55 percent reduction pedestrian involved crashes and a 15 percent reduction in serious injury and fatal crashes.

The Manteca City Council is being asked Tuesday when they meet at 6 p.m. to amend a professional services agreement with Mark Thomas & Co. for $24,800 to design the crossing upgrades plus assorted ADA improvements.

The firm was already hired for design work not to exceed $303,800 for safety improvements in the Main Street corridor from Northgate Drive to Alameda Street.

The wide arterial often sees speed exceeding the speed limit due to the distance between signalized intersections.

Golden West School also fronts the segment of North Main Street.

The project  includes design and construction of bike lanes, raised medians, pedestrian median fencing, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and traffic signal loop modifications along Main Street from Northgate Drive to Alameda Street.

The hybrid bacons — as well as upgraded American with Disabilities Act curb cuts — were identified in the recently approved Local Roadway Safety Plan.

The improvements were identified as needed by citizen input working with consultants. The plan was done after the North Main Street project was initiated.

The city has been awarded a $1.9 million Highway Safety Improvement Act to fund safety upgrades due to a need to reduce the potential for accidents involving pedestrians and bicycle accidents.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com