Highways

Gateway in-street signs remind drivers that state law requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.  

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies the public that gateway in-street signs are being installed in both directions on Pali Highway at the Wood Street crosswalk between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The Pali Highway and Wood Street crosswalk was the location of the fatal collision that claimed the life of a Nuuanu resident on Oct. 10, 2018.

Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways said: “The safest transportation systems separate motorists from bicyclists and pedestrians to minimize the potential for human error, which is the cause of over 90 percent of fatal crashes. We are working towards this end, and it will take time and money.

“While we improve the facilities that we have, we are always looking for solutions that can be implemented quickly to bring safety improvements. The gateway concept is one that the State of Michigan has found to be efficient and effective to protect pedestrians.

The gateway in-street treatment consists of two signs posted on both sides of the road alerting drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. These signs will be accompanied with yellow delineators in between each travel lane to draw attention to the crosswalk. Gateway in-street treatments have been shown to increase yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks in Michigan and to encourage drivers to slow down at crosswalks where they are installed. A conceptual image of the treatment can be seen here.

HDOT will also be piloting this pedestrian safety measure at the first and last unsignalized crosswalks on Pali Highway. Should the gateway in-street treatment prove effective, additional treatments will be added to unsignalized crosswalks on state routes as a supplement to ongoing highway safety initiatives.

Sniffen added, “Engineering has a place in building safer roads, but we can all do our part. I personally want to ask all road users to look out for one another and hope that these signs will remind motorists of their responsibilities. When you get behind the wheel of your car, you are driving a multi-ton machine that can seriously hurt or kill people. Please remember this and drive responsibly.”

HDOT reminds the public that the speed limit on Pali Highway from Waokanaka Street to the H-1/Punchbowl Street offramp is 35 mph as this major thoroughfare goes through a residential neighborhood.

As of Oct. 18, 2018, there have been 95 traffic related fatalities in Hawaii, of which 33 were pedestrians. A link to the traffic fatality statistics can be found by clicking here.

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