The city of Surprise is installing two new school crossings and a traffic signal in areas around the city prior to the start of the school year to improve safety for children walking, biking and driving to school.

The city is also installing a signalized crosswalk for high pedestrian traffic near a high school that sees high foot traffic from surrounding events and venues.

Two new school crossings were installed July 24 on Cholla Street — one at Sarival Avenue and one at Reems Road — which are near Sonoran Heights Middle School and Rancho Gabriela Elementary School.

Variable speed limit signs on Sarival and Reems approaching Cholla post a 35 miles per hour speed limit during school hours and 45 speed limit outside of school hours.

The speed limit is 15 miles per hour traveling through the school crossings during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. There is no passing allowed in the 15 mph school crossing zones. Motorists must obey all traffic signs and crossing guards.

A new traffic signal was scheduled to be activated this week at Perryville Road and Desert Cove Road near Shadow Ridge High School, dependent on when APS can power the signal. Once activated, the signal will flash red for 48 hours before beginning normal operation. Motorists should treat the flashing red lights the same as a four-way intersection with stop signs.

A new signalized crosswalk, known as a High intensity Activated crossWalK, was also planned to be activated this week on Parkview Place next to The Vista Center for the Arts at Valley Vista High School.

While the school pedestrian traffic alone is not extremely high, the city conducted a study last year that identified the need for the HAWK due to the high number of pedestrians crossing at that location during events at night and on the weekends.

HAWK signals operate in a “Yellow–Red–Flashing Red” sequence to alert motorists that pedestrians need to cross the road.

Motorists should respond to yellow and solid red lights in the same manner as any other traffic signal. After stopping for the red light, motorists may proceed through the crossing area during the flashing red light interval only when safe to do so without risk to pedestrians.

The HAWK only operates when a pedestrian pushes the crossing button. Vehicles are free to move when no one is crossing the street and the HAWK is not illuminated.