Traffic Safety Corporation and Solar Traffic Controls complete crosswalk project

TEMPE, AZ - 02/27/06 - The Town of Marana, AZ has moved forward to heighten public safety at a neighborhood crosswalk by adding pedestrian activated in-pavement lighting and advance flashing beacons.

According to Scott Leska, P.E. (Project Manager / Traffic Engineer, Marana Public Works Department), "This crosswalk warning light system was installed to increase the margin of safety for pedestrians crossing the four-lane collector road to access a parking lot and a community center." In addition to being all solar electric, Mr. Leska said, "The system is the first of its kind in the southern Arizona/Tucson metropolitan region, and we anticipate it will be effective for motorists and pedestrians at all times of the night and day."

Traffic Safety Corporation furnished the in-pavement lighting system for the project. It incorporates 12 of the TS500 in-pavement fixtures with high intensity LED lamps, which have a maximum optical output of 600,000 Candela. The in-pavement system is a 12VDC parallel circuit powered by a 40W solar power adapter package with a single sealed battery. It includes an LCD screen to display the system's status and allow the user to make adjustments to the run time and flash rate of the lamps.

Included is a contact closure radio transmitter to activate the flashers located in advance of the crosswalk and a running count of the button inputs. The in-pavement system has Polara Engineering Model X series buttons on each side of the crosswalk with built-in speakers to play an audio message when the system is activated. Each Model X button assembly includes embedded LED lamps in the faceplate, above the button, to provide a visual indication that the system is operating. The system contains an audio message for visually impaired pedestrians.

The advance solar flashers, purchased on a previous project from Solar Traffic Controls, use dual 12-inch LED lamps. The solar flasher units were originally designed to function as 24-hour flashers. To operate in conjunction with this project the flasher system controls were modified to a Solar Traffic Controls XSR model flasher with radio receiver and control logic prior to installation at the site. When the in-pavement system is activated the advance flashers are activated via the contact closure radio signal transmitted from the power adapter at the crosswalk.

Marana is located northwest of Tucson, AZ. Installation was done by Hanmar Energy of Tucson, AZ with both Traffic Safety and Solar Traffic personnel on hand for technical guidance.

For more information:
Traffic Safety Corporation - www.xwalk.com
Solar Traffic Controls - www.solar-traffic-controls.com
Polara Engineering - www.polara.com
Hanmar Energy - www.hanmarenergy.com
 

About Solar Traffic Controls, LLC
Solar Traffic Controls (STC) designs and manufactures solar-powered traffic control systems for city, state and federal DOTs. Its primary products are solar-powered flashing beacon systems used for school zones and 24-hour applications. What sets STC's systems apart from its competitors: technical merit. For more information, please visit www.solar-traffic-controls.com