Over half of the crashes that occur in Bellevue involve a vulnerable road user – most of which occur at an intersection.
Vulnerable road users are people on our roads and sidewalks that don’t have the protection of a vehicle to keep them safe. This includes people walking, biking, and using mobility aids like wheelchairs or micromobility devices like e-scooters. Travelers with mobility limitations, older adults and children are also often at higher risk in traffic interactions with vehicles.
The City of Bellevue Transportation Department has received federal funding to pilot the Real-Time Traffic Signal Safety Interventions, or “Safer Signals” project to improve intersection safety for all road users whether they are traveling in a vehicle or not.
Traffic Signal Technology
Traditional traffic signals used throughout the U.S are designed to move vehicles quickly and efficiently through an intersection. They are not designed to detect or minimize risks for people traveling outside of a vehicle.
The city will test traffic signal technology that uses video analytics and intelligent sensors to detect people walking, biking and rolling in the crosswalk and Artificial Intelligence to analyze their movements in real-time. For example, if the signal detects one of these people may need more time to cross or there are many people in the crosswalk, it can extend the WALK cycle to allow them to safely cross.
Changes such as extending WALK signals happen automatically and do not require someone to press a button. The average WALK time extension is only 3 seconds, barely longer than a sneeze, and it will only happen when someone needs more time to cross.
These real-time signal changes are similar to how some traffic signals adjust automatically when emergency vehicles need to cross the intersection or extend signal phases when vehicles are approaching an intersection.
Pilot Overview
Improved signal technology to keep all road users safe supports the city’s Vision Zero effort which aims to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes on city streets by 2030.
Bellevue will test sensor technology at four signalized intersections in the Crossroads neighborhood and one in the Factoria neighborhood from June through August 2025. The pilot locations prioritize areas in Bellevue where many people walk, roll or bike – particularly near schools, parks shops and transit lines. The project area will also prioritize older adults. More than half of people living in or near Crossroads are over 65 or under 18, underscoring the urgency of improving road safety in this area.
Pilot goals
The project seeks to test signal technologies that can successfully help avoid crashes or close call incidents involving vulnerable road users. The technology will be considered successful if it can:
- Increase awareness of safety issues at signalized intersections.
- Detect all roadway user types including those not protected in a vehicle at signalized intersections, especially those with mobility challenges.
- Initiate real time changes to the signal timing when risks are detected to protect vulnerable road users.
Test scenarios
There are four scenarios the project team will test to determine if the traffic signals are making the real-time changes needed to keep people safe at the intersection:
- Scenario 1: Identify when there is a person walking, biking or rolling still in need of time to safely cross the road.
- Scenario 2: Extend walk times based on the number and speed of people walking, biking and rolling in the crosswalk.
- Scenario 3: Restrict or allow left turns on a flashing yellow arrow for vehicles based on the distance or number of oncoming vehicles.
- Scenario 4: Activate the “no-turn-on-red” signal when there are large volumes of people at the crosswalk and cars waiting to turn right.
Get Involved
Are you a part of an organization or community group that wants to host our team to learn more and ask questions about the project? Please email the project manager, Kirk Neibert (kneibert@bellevuewa.gov) to schedule a time.
Funding
The project received $1.43 million in 2024 from the U.S Department of Transportation’s SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) 2023 grant program. The SMART program supports public agencies and transit authorities testing technologies that improve transportation efficiency and safety.
The outcomes of the pilot program will inform the city’s application for a second phase of SMART funding to test this technology in other parts of the region such as the City of Tacoma.
Timeline
- Fall 2025: Apply for SMART stage 2 funding
- Summer 2025: Administer the Safer Signals pilot
- Spring 2024: SMART grant awarded
Frequently Asked Questions
How will this project improve safety at intersections?
This project is designed to improve safety, especially for people traveling outside of a vehicle, by employing intelligent sensors at intersections. Using technologies such as LiDAR and video analytics, the system can proactively detect potential safety risks and trigger real-time signal interventions, including automatically extending crossing times if someone needs extra time in the crosswalk and detecting when to turn on the "No Turn on Red" signs depending on if there are people waiting at the crosswalk.
What are the signal sensors recording and how is that information stored?
The project will collect data from our traffic signal systems and new sensors like cameras and LiDAR placed at intersections. This data helps us understand things like how many people are crossing, how fast they are moving, and how vehicles interact with them. Importantly, the system is specifically designed not to collect any personal information that could identify you, such as your face or license plate number. The focus is purely on traffic and movement patterns to improve safety.
Will the data collected be shared with any third parties?
The data collected from this project is planned to be shared with partners and made publicly available where appropriate, aligning with federal public access requirements. This sharing supports important research, evaluation, and helps inform decisions for future safety projects and strategies. Access to data is also necessary for project partners to help operate, integrate, and analyze the system's performance.
What changes will I notice at the intersection?
People walking, biking or rolling through an intersection may notice that the WALK signal stays on slightly longer if the system detects someone needs more time to cross. In all of these scenarios, adjustments happen automatically based on data the sensors send to the traffic signals.
Will this technology affect travel times for vehicles?
The main goal of this project is to make intersections safer for everyone, especially people walking and biking, by allowing signals to make real-time adjustments. This means a signal might briefly stay red longer for vehicles, for instance, if someone needs a little more time to cross, but these delays are designed to be minimal, often only about three seconds on average when extending walk times.
News and Events
Have a question or comment?
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