Construction is set to begin in February for pedestrian safety improvements on the two main thoroughfares in Sun City. The project involves the addition of pedestrian crossing signs, button-activated flashing lights, and crosswalk striping at eight intersections on Del Webb Boulevard and Sun City Boulevard.
These safety enhancements reflect the awareness that our transportation network serves pedestrians as well as vehicles. Dog walkers, runners, and others traveling on foot use the streets and paths in Sun City every day. Markers for pedestrian crossings on the two main routes will alert drivers to the presence of walkers on these busier roadways.
Pedestrian crossings will be added to two intersections on Del Webb Boulevard at Scissortail Trail and Texas Drive as well as six intersections on Sun City Boulevard:
• Salt Creek Lane
• Texas Drive (south intersection)
• Whispering Wind
• San Saba Drive
• Texas Drive (north intersection)
• At Sun City Park (softball fields, dog park, and community gardens)
The upgraded crossings will include yellow signs with arrows on both sides of the streets. Each crossing will include solar-powered flashing lights with buttons that can be activated by pedestrians. The solar panels on the signs will be connected to batteries so the flashing lights can be activated at night as well as daylight hours.
When pedestrians push a button at a crosswalk, flashing lights on the sign will provide an additional alert to drivers that pedestrians are present. State law requires drivers to stop at a marked crosswalk when pedestrians are present. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk, even when a flashing light is not present or activated.
The project to enhance the crossings was the result of requests from residents as well as the involvement of Council Member Steve Fought and the Sun City Texas Community Association. A list of crossings to be enhanced with pedestrian safety improvements was compiled in 2018. Last year, the Community Association completed improvements to sidewalks for crossings at those locations.
The City put the project out for bid last year, and in September, the City Council approved a bid of $632,132 by Choice Builders of Temple to build the project.
Construction on the crossing signs, lights, and striping should start in February and be complete in April.
To find out more about transportation and mobility projects in Georgetown, go to transportation.georgetown.org.
TOP: Pedestrian crossing signs similar to this one on Austin Avenue at 10th Street will be added to eight intersections in Sun City. BOTTOM: Pedestrians can use a button to activate flashing lights to help alert drivers they are crossing the street.
