At a Feb. 13 meeting, Cedar Park City Council approved the installation of the crosswalks by D.I.J. Construction Inc. in an amount not to exceed $625,000, according to city documents. The new crosswalks are intended to improve safety in the city by making it easier for drivers to see pedestrians, city officials said.
“I know we’re all really excited about this significant improvement to the safety of our streets,” Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said.
The overview
Over the next six months, D.I.J. Construction Inc. and the city of Cedar Park will work to install high visibility crosswalks at all existing crosswalks across the city, said Stephen Hanuscin, assistant director of public works for Cedar Park. The striped high visibility crosswalks will replace the city’s traditional transverse crosswalks featuring two parallel lines.
The project will include the installation of around 900 new crosswalks at about 550 intersections throughout Cedar Park. 700 crosswalks will be installed by D.I.J. Construction Inc. and around 200 will be completed by the city of Cedar Park, Hanuscin said.
The high visibility crosswalks will also be installed at pedestrian crossings that do not yet have crosswalks, many of which are in residential neighborhoods, Hanuscin said.
The city will first install the high visibility crosswalks at major roads, some of which have already received the new crosswalks, before moving on to neighborhoods, he said.
The background
The implementation of high visibility crosswalks was included in the city’s Mobility Master Plan in 2023 that focused on improving safety, Hanuscin said. Additionally, installing high visibility crosswalks was identified in the council's strategic goals for 2024 to 2026.
High visibility crosswalks are becoming the standard nationwide as other cities and the Texas Department of Transportation are installing them, he said.
Hanuscin said some studies have proven these crosswalks to be more visible to drivers compared to other crosswalks. High visibility crosswalks can reduce crashes causing pedestrian injuries up to 40%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration.
Notable quote
Council member Eric Boyce said some residents have been concerned about speeding in the area.
“People are fearful crossing streets,” Boyce said. “Talking to some of my neighbors, they’re real excited that this might be one more way to try to get people to slow down and be more conscious of the mobility within the neighborhood.”
Stay tuned
The installation of the new crosswalks is expected to be complete by August, according to the presentation.
