STAMFORD, CT – Mayor David Martin and Bureau Chief for Transportation Jim Travers were happy to join City Representative Virgil De La Cruz in testing new technology, the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) Thursday afternoon. The fourth RRFB, just installed at Selleck Street at Durant Street, joins three others throughout the City.

“Distracted driving and distracted walking have increased in the last few years, making pedestrian crashes more common throughout the country. The RRFBs are a low-cost solution that can be life-saving,” said Mayor Martin. “Jim and his team have done a lot in a short amount of time to improve pedestrian safety, especially through devices like the RRFB that bring drivers’ attention to pedestrians.”

Stamford faces many challenges in providing cost-effective services to help pedestrians cross streets safely. Some locations do not meet the required traffic and pedestrian volumes for the installation of a standard traffic signal. The RRFB is a lower-cost alternative to traditional traffic signals and has been found to increase the frequency in which drivers yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.

RRFBs can enhance safety by increasing driver awareness of people who want to cross the street at a crosswalk. When installed at un-signalized crosswalks, the RRFBs have been shown to be more effective than standard signing and pavement markings alone.

RRFBs have been installed in other municipalities in Connecticut and throughout the country to improve services to pedestrians.

The City of Stamford has recently installed four of these models. These locations are Hope St @ Springdale Train Station; Lawn Ave @ Trumbull Gate; Newfield Ave @ Crane Rd; and the new one on Selleck St @ Durant St.

This location on Selleck Street was chosen because of the high density residential developments to the North, the bustling retail to the South, and it’s very active bus stop location. In addition to the RRFB, improvements were made to the sidewalk to accommodate more pedestrians waiting to cross the street.

HOW THE RRFB WORKS:

1. The pedestrian activates the RRFB by pressing the button.
2. The RRFB begins to flash to alert drivers that a pedestrian wants to cross the street in the crosswalk.
3. Flashing lights facing the pedestrian confirm the activation of the RRFB.
4. The RRFB flashes for a set time that allows a pedestrian adequate time to cross.
5. After the allocated time has passed for the pedestrians to complete their crossing, the RRFB turns off.

PEDESTRIAN TIPS

1. Push the button to activate the RRFB.
2. Check for traffic before stepping into the street. Walk defensively and make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they see you. Cross only within the crosswalk.
3. Connecticut state law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is in or near the same half of the street as the driver. The Connecticut state law also requires pedestrians to enter the street with caution.

The City of Stamford is committed to increasing pedestrian safety.  Some recent measures we have undertaken are: 

• Illuminated No Turn On Red signage on Washington Blvd. @ Tresser
• Illuminated Yield To Pedestrian signage on Washington Blvd. @ Tresser
• Addition of our fourth H.A.W.K. signal (in front of Stamford High School)
• Painted 66 SLOW SCHOOL markings at the approach to public schools through Stamford
• Re-marked many crosswalks throughout Stamford
• Piloted delineators at three locations in the City: Turn of River Rd @ High Ridge Rd; Fifth Street near Revonah Ave; Hope Street @ Clearview Ave.