Commonway
Version V. 2026.08.31

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

ELM-PHB-18
Situational / Discouraged Element

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

A pedestrian-activated signal, sometimes called a HAWK beacon, that remains dark until activated, then displays a sequence progressing through flashing and solid indications to stop traffic and allow a pedestrian to cross, before returning to dark.

Working assessment: this pattern’s status reflects a preliminary Commonway System judgment call, pending final review.

#Why this pattern exists

A pedestrian hybrid beacon provides stronger, legally binding stop control than an RRFB while avoiding the ongoing delay a full traffic signal would impose on a corridor at a location that does not have enough pedestrian volume to justify constant signal timing. This pattern exists to document this middle-tier crossing treatment between an RRFB and a full signal.

#Key considerations

  • Most appropriate at crossings with meaningful but intermittent pedestrian volume on a higher-speed or higher-volume roadway where an RRFB’s advisory-only nature is not sufficient
  • The dark-until-activated design should be paired with clear driver education or signage, since an unfamiliar driver may not immediately understand the sequence
  • Requires adequate signage and lighting so the beacon itself is visible and comprehensible well before the crossing point

RRFB (ELM-RRF-17) (the lighter-control alternative this pattern exceeds); Traffic Signal (ELM-TFS-14) (the heavier-control alternative this pattern avoids); Crosswalk (ELM-CRW-08), Pedestrian Safety Island/Refuge (ELM-PSI-09) (companion crossing elements)

Unsourced claim

Formal citations for this pattern have not yet been compiled from primary sources.

Suggest changes to this page (opens in new tab) Last updated August 31, 2026