On her way to A.G. Bell Elementary School Tuesday morning, 8-year-old Hannah Ochoa waited to cross the street as crossing guard Kriss Simon held traffic on Northeast 116th Street and 110th Avenue Northeast.

Simon was assisted by the new rapid flashing beacons, which the city of Kirkland installed in time for National Walk to School Week.

“We’ve been waiting for them,” Simon said. Simon’s fellow crossing guard said the flashing beacons were even more valuable to the late-arriving students who cross 116th without the aid of the crossing guards.

“All they have to do is push that button,” she said. “And even though we are not here, they [motorists] will see them.”

The beacons at Northeast 116th Street and 110th Avenue Northeast are one of six systems paid for by the streets levy, which voters passed in November 2012. The levy will pay for another nine rapid flashing beacons later this winter.

Christian Knight is an employee of the Kirkland City Manager’s office.