FDOT activates Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon on SW 16th Avenue

Press release from Florida Department of Transportation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Pedestrians have a new, safe place to cross SW 16th Avenue (State Road 226) as FDOT activated a newly constructed Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) Wednesday night. Located on SW 16th Avenue near SW 10th Terrace, the new PHB will improve safety and increase pedestrian mobility in Southwest Gainesville.

This project marks the third PHB FDOT has activated in Gainesville this year. Other locations are 39th Avenue near NE 28th Avenue and East University Avenue near Fred Cone Park. Additionally, plans are in the works to construct a fourth PHB on Williston Road near Hawthorne Trail Crossing in 2024.

PHBs are advanced crosswalk systems that control both vehicle and pedestrian movements using traffic signals. Please click below for a video on how PHBs function.

FDOT selected AJ General Construction Services Inc. to complete this $613,000 project by fall 2023, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.

  • We already have a traffic signal at the intersection; WTF? The biggest safety improvement Gainesville could make would be to start enforcing fines for pedestrians in the wrong and get them publicized, especially among grades 9-16. The rest of this is virtue signalling and chasing accidents, many of which were the pedestrian’s fault.

  • One of the causes of rear end crashes especially on Archer road by Shands and 300 SE Williston road.

  • FLDOT: PLEASE stop telling people that magic crosswalk paint will somehow keep you safe from onrushing vehicles. In any collision the smallest entity ALWAYS bears the greatest responsibility. That’s just reality. You don’t care who’s broken a law if you’re killed in the accident.

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