Increasing Pedestrian Safety with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

ODOT is improving safety for people walking, biking or rolling at crossings by installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, also known as pedestrian activated beacons, at locations across Region 1. The beacons are a critical part of ODOT's efforts to maintain a modern and safe transportation system.

How to use Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

Educational Videos

Pedestrian activated beacons are installed at specific pedestrian crossings with high pedestrian and vehicle traffic to alert drivers that people are crossing the street.

When someone activates the beacon by pushing the button, yellow LED lights will flash to alert people driving to the presence of someone at the crossing.

See how ODOT chooses sites for pedestrian activated beacons, how they improve safety and what drivers and people crossing the street need to do when they see a rapid flashing beacon. View the videos below or on YouTube.

Pedestrian Activated Beacons Help Alert Drivers to the Presence of Pedestrians

Los faros activados por peatones ayudan a alertar a los conductores sobre la presencia de peatones

Driver Responsibility to Visually Impaired Pedestrians crossing at Pedestrian Activated Beacon

Responsabilidad del conductor cuando deficientes visuales cruzan en un faro activado por peatones

Pedestrian Responsibility at a Pedestrian Activated Beacon Crossing

La responsabilidad del peatón en un cruce peatonal con un faro activado por peatones

Brochure

View our brochure “A Guide for Pedestrians and Drivers - Crossing Beacons” to learn what to do when you see a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon.

Safety Benefits

Enhanced pedestrian crossings with pedestrian activated beacons alert drivers that people are crossing the street.
Pedestrian activated beacons can reduce crashes between vehicles and pedestrians by increasing driver awareness to a person crossing the road.

Rapid Flashing Beacon project locations

There are several locations identified for pedestrian activated beacon installation in the next several years. See the list below for completed and future pedestrian activated beacon locations.

Completed

Powell Boulevard Safety Project: three Rapid Flashing Beacons on Powell Boulevard at SE 24th, SE 31st and SE 34th Avenues (2019).
OR 99W Safe Access to Transit Project: one rapid flashing beacon on OR 99W at the intersection of SW Barbur Boulevard, SW Naito Parkway and SW Lane Street (2020).
Outer Powell Phase 1 Project: three rapid flashing beacons on Powell Boulevard at SE 125th Avenue, SE 130th Avenue and SE 132nd Avenue (2020).
OR 8 Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade at 44th/45th Avenue Project: one rapid flashing beacon on OR 8 between SE 44th and SE 45th Avenues in Hillsboro (2021).
OR211: OR213 - S Ona Way Project: one rapid flashing beacon on OR 211 at North Hezzie Lane (2019).
Region 1 Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project includes two rapid flash beacons on 82nd Avenue at NE Pacific and SE Mitchell Streets, two rapid flash beacons on OR 99E at SE Boardman and SE Hull Avenue, and one rapid flash beacon on OR 8 at 12th Avenue in Cornelius.
U.S. 30 Bypass (Sandy Blvd) @ NE 108th Avenue includes one rapid flashing beacon on NE Sandy Boulevard at NE 108th Avenue in Portland.
Rapid Pedestrian Improvements 2021 project includes one rapid flashing beacon NE 82nd Avenue at NE Alberta.
Lombard Multimodal Safety Project includes two rapid flashing beacons on North Lombard at N. Delaware and N. Emerald on North Lombard in Portland (2022).
Lighting and Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons project includes five rapid flashing beacons in various locations in Gresham.
OR 8 Improvements 110th Ave to 192nd Avenue project includes one rapid flashing beacon on OR 8 at SW 192nd Avenue.

SE 82nd Avenue at Center/Francis.
SW Barbur Boulevard at Rasmussen, Luradel, Alice and 13th.
SE 82nd Avenue and Division.
NE Sandy Boulevard at 131st.
SE 93rd Avenue at SE Division Street.
SW Kelly Avenue/Naito Parkway at SW Water Avenue.

Future Projects

OR 8 at East Lane in Cornelius includes a rapid flashing beacon in fall 2023.
82nd Avenue: Foster to SE Thompson project includes two rapid flashing beacons on SE 82nd Avenue at SE Cooper Street and SE Clatsop Street in Portland, two rapid flashing beacons on SE 82nd Avenue at SE Glencoe Road and near SE Thompson Road in Clackamas County.
OR 43 Willamette Drive Improvement project includes one rapid flashing beacon on OR 43 at Cedar Oak Drive in West Linn.
Outer Powell Phase 2 project includes ten rapid flashing beacons on SE Powell Boulevard at SE 108th, SE 116th, SE 119th, SE 140th, SE 145th, SE 151st, SE 156th, between SE 157th and SE 160th, SE 166th and 168th Avenues in Portland. Construction is scheduled for 2025.
OR 141 (Hall Boulevard) project includes two rapid flashing beacons on SW Hall Boulevard at the intersections of SW Spruce Street in the City of Tigard and SW Hemlock Street in unincorporated Washington County/Metzger. Construction is scheduled for 2025.