Provided transportation design services for improvements to the intersection of 9th Street and Aldrich Avenue as part of Ocean City’s Rail Trail & Bicycle Boulevard Project. The new crossing at this intersection will serve as a vital link in the bicycle network, providing the much-needed north end crossing and managing speeds on 9th Street with an emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle movement. To provide these desired features at this previously uncontrolled and unmarked crossing, a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) was designed following the premise of a pedestrian hybrid beacon as called for in the MUTCD. A ‘warrant’ analysis was prepared for the HAWK after careful examination of the existing and projected vehicular and pedestrian volumes as part of the City’s planned bicycle network.

Design plans included full above- and below-ground traffic signal and electrical infrastructure to support the HAWK, a detailed timing directive for the signal operation, and supporting signing and pavement marking improvements. With a unique nature serving both pedestrians and bicyclists while still allowing vehicular access, the crossing incorporated several advanced measures for the safe passage and separation of these modes, including accessible curb ramps, a dedicated bicycle facility, a high-visibility bicycle crossing, a decorative pedestrian crosswalk, audible pedestrian signals, and enhanced infrastructure resiliency from weather phenomena. Tasks also included bid and construction services in the form of pre-construction and field meetings, shop drawing review and approval, responses to RFIs, and punch list development.