News Flash

(UPDATE: May 10 2024) The equipment problem has been resolved and the new pedestrian hybrid beacons at these two high schools are now activated.

(UPDATE: May 9, 2024, 3 p.m.) The previously announced activation of the pedestrian hybrid beacons at these two high schools has been postponed due to an equipment failure. The manufacturer will need to fix the issue and so we do not have an exact timeframe for when they will be activated.  We will send another announcement when they are ready for operation.  At Rock Hill High School, the original pedestrian-activated yellow flashing beacon will stay in operation until the new equipment is ready to be activated.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

(May 9, 2024) New pedestrian signals will be activated in front of two high schools this afternoon: One in front of Reedy High School on Stonebrook Pkwy. and one in front of Rock Hill High School on Coit Rd. These devices are officially called Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons and there are now three of them in Frisco (the first one being in front of Maus Middle School on Coit Rd).  As more people will encounter these devices, the following information explains how they work:

• A Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon is a standard traffic control device that is being used more and more across the United States. It stops traffic with a red light and includes WALK/DON’T WALK indications for the pedestrians. It looks somewhat like a regular traffic signal, but the signal heads are arranged in a different pattern to show motorists that it operates differently. Most importantly, it remains dark until a pedestrian pushes the button to activate it.

Click here to see a brochure that explains how the pedestrian hybrid beacon works, and click here to watch a video about it.  A brief summary is included below:

• When the beacon is not in use, the indications above the arterial roadway will remain dark and traffic can proceed normally through the intersection (while a DON’T WALK symbol is displayed to the crosswalk). A pedestrian must push the button on the pole to activate the beacon and then wait for the beacon to give a WALK symbol.
• Once activated, the beacon will start flashing yellow to warn traffic on the roadway to start slowing down. Then the beacon will show a solid yellow light, which is the normal command for traffic on the roadway to get ready to stop. Then the beacon will show a red light, which means all traffic on the roadway must stop at the white lines striped on the road. After the beacon has given pedestrians enough time to cross the road, the red lights will start to flash, which means that traffic should treat it like a stop sign: Stop and then proceed only if the crosswalk is clear of pedestrians. Then the beacon will go dark again, which means traffic on the roadway can proceed normally again.

Parents are urged to explain to their students to always push the button at these beacons when crossing these roads and to obey the WALK/DON’T WALK indications. Pedestrians should make eye contact with all drivers to ensure they are stopped and they see you.

Drivers are urged to pay special attention to these beacons on Coit Rd. and on Stonebrook Pkwy. and be prepared to stop if they are activated. As with all crosswalks, drivers should expect pedestrians at these locations and be prepared to stop for pedestrians even if the beacon isn’t lit up.