(In response to a Sept. 15 letter). The City of Kirkland is a leader in innovative crosswalk treatments.

Kirkland was the first city outside of California to begin using in-pavement lights nearly 15 years ago, and Kirkland is the first U.S. city to use pedestrian crossing flags.

Use of both of these crosswalk enhancements, in-pavement lights and crossing flags, have since spread across the country to cities large and small. They are similarly effective methods of improving safety at crosswalks and both are used in a variety of situations throughout Kirkland.

One drawback to the more expensive method, in-pavement lights, especially the earlier models like those installed along 124th Avenue by King County, is that they are prone to damage by vehicles, surrounding pavement failure, and weather.

When they fail, it is sometimes impossible to repair them in a cost effective manner. Over the years Kirkland has adopted a policy to manage the damaged systems in a cost-conscious manner.

Currently, when more than 50 percent of the lights in either direction fail or there is damage to the control system and it cannot be readily or cost effectively repaired, the system is taken out of service, and the crosswalk is solely supplemented with crossing flags.

This was the situation at the crosswalks on 124th Avenue. Too many heads had failed, and the system was taken out of service.

A recent development in crosswalk safety that Kirkland has been exploring is a new LED based system of flashers that are mounted on roadside signs and activated by a pedestrian push button. These devices are known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or RRFB’s.

Testing and research by the Federal Highway Administration has shown them to be very effective at warning drivers that pedestrians are present. Since the RRFB’s are not installed in the pavement and use parts that are widely available, they are more durable, long-lasting, and easier (i.e. less expensive) to repair than the early in-pavement systems.

The City of Kirkland will soon be installing four RRFB’s systems. Based on results from this first group of replacements, and depending on funding availability, other RRFB’s will be programmed to be installed to replace failed in-pavement lights over time.

Maintaining safe crosswalks is a high priority of the Kirkland City Council, and the city is continually evaluating cost effective and innovative methods to help ensure the continued safety of Kirkland’s numerous pedestrians.

David Godfrey, City of Kirkland Transportation Engineering manager