A step in the bright direction

By Andrew Revelos - Quantico Sentry - January 27, 2011

Quantico commuters may have noticed new blinking crosswalk signs aboard the base.

The Quantico Public Works Branch coordinated with Public Safety to install 16 solar-powered LED pedestrian signs, which blink up to 59 times per minute, in an effort to improve safety at the crosswalks in high-traffic areas along Barnett and Catlin avenues.

Manassas-based Baistar Mechanical, Inc., is under contract to complete the $117,000 project.

Dave Kiefer, project manager for the resident officer in charge of construction, said the new signs not only improve safety aboard the base, but also fit in with Quantico's emphasis on reducing energy costs.

"Since the existing signs did not have lights, power was not available," he said. "Therefore, to avoid increasing power usage and the additional cost of installing new power lines to the pedestrian signs, the determination was made to use solar-powered signs."

The solar-powered crosswalk signs, called Day-Viz (daylight visible) Blinkersigns, are manufactured by the Traffic and Parking Control Company of Milwaukee. Rich Lolli, national sales manager for government accounts with TAPCO, said the signs have been big sellers for military installations. Quantico joins other regional military installations such as Andrews Air Force Base and Fort Belvoir, as well as Marine posts like Camp Lejeune, using TAPCO signs.

Quantico's project will include five new energy-conserving LED streetlights, one of which is also solar-powered, that will contribute to the safety provided by the flashing signs by casting additional light on the crosswalks. Due to be installed during the next two weeks, the new streetlights will also be clustered along Barnett Avenue.

In 2010, there were five incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians aboard the base, according to Staff Sgt. Robert Hubauer, accident investigation chief with the Provost Marshal. "We want everybody to use the crosswalks," said Hubauer. "We’re hoping the new signs will get the attention of drivers."

Hubauer emphasized that the crosswalks can only be effective if pedestrians use them. "The biggest problem we have is people not using the crosswalks," he said.

Traffic control measures are carefully selected and located to maximize safety for both pedestrians and drivers, Lt. Cmdr. Erik Breitenbach said. The installation of these signs had been in development for over a year. While this planning element is important, compliance with posted signs by pedestrians and drivers is critical to both reducing accidents and improving flow of traffic.