Project History

To increase vulnerable user awareness and their safety, Cary staff partnered with Wake County Public Schools staff, Cary High School Administration, and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials to construct a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) at the existing crosswalk in front of Cary High School on Walnut Street. A PHB, which is a regulatory device, is expected to provide a safer crossing than what exists today. In addition, a new PHB at this location complements the Walnut Street road diet work just to the west and highlights Cary’s efforts to improve pedestrian crossing facilities and prevent severe crashes in the future involving vulnerable road users.

Image courtesy - FDOT 

A pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) is a traffic control device designed to help pedestrians safely cross roadways at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections. The 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, which 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 pedestrians to safely cross the roadway before going dark again.

Driver and Pedestrian Guidance

Pedestrian Call Button

Side Street Traffic

Unlike a standard traffic signal, intersections with a PHB do not have any traffic signals facing the side street approaches. Any side street that is controlled by a stop sign will continue to be controlled by a stop sign when a PHB is in place.

Median

This project will replace the existing concrete median on both sides of the crosswalk with a longer and wider landscaped median. The metal pole for the PHB will be installed in the landscaped median with a single pole and dual mast-arms, each providing traffic control for the eastbound and westbound traffic on Walnut Street.

Landscaping materials will be installed as a separate effort to ensure the new plantings will survive the seasonal impact of weather.  The final landscaping and decorative features are being developed in collaboration with Cary High School students.  Prior to the installation of these features, the median islands will remain mulched.

Project Schedule

• Construction started in June 2024
• Construction tentatively scheduled for completion August-September 2024
• Creative median design through collaboration with Cary High School Spring 2024-Summer 2025

Additional information on a PHB can be found on the U.S. DOT’s webpage.