Westfield Installs Signal at Monon/161st Crossing

HAWK crossing signal for drivers

Although the city of Westfield announced plans some years ago to build a tunnel for the Monon Trail under 161st Street similar to the one under 116th Street, those plans are still in the future. While they await funding for a multi-million dollar tunnel, the city has placed a HAWK pushbutton signal at the crossing; similar to that on the Midland Trace trail at Hazel Dell Road. Trail users now have a large pushbutton mounted on the right-hand side of the trail for both approaches and a pedestrian crossing signal just like a normal street corner.

According to Westfield, pushing the button activates a 20-second crossing for trail users and a red STOP signal for drivers. The light is intended to increase safety at what a Westfield spokesperson called "probably our busiest interchange." There have been no fatal accidents at the crossing, but several trail users have been injured in past bicycle- or pedestrian-car collisions.

According to published reports, drivers on 161st see a flashing yellow light at the crossing that changes to a solid yellow when the signal is first activated. In an apparent attempt to confuse drivers, they have a solid red signal while the WALK light is lit, but the signal changes to a flashing red once the countdown begins for trail users. If the same system is in effect at Hazel Dell, that explains a lot...

In an effort to educate trail users and drivers, the city has prepared a YouTube video:

I've been through the intersection a handful of times since the HAWK system was installed, and have seen both drivers and trail users either confused by or just ignore the light.. Drivers accustomed to stopping for trail users are still stopping on the yellow light and waving through cyclists and pedestrians who didn't bother to push the button. With luck, perhaps the routine will settle down... eventually

Westfield still plans a tunnel crossing at the intersection, but neither funding nor plans are in the works.

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