Anderson Township installed three pedestrian-activated crosswalk signals at intersections along its hike-bike trail network.

The new flashing warning beacons went in at Wolfangel Road and Hampton Place, Birney Lane and Windy Hills Drive, and Little Dry Run Road and Blairhouse Drive, as first reported by WKRC on Monday, Sept. 28.

The installations bring the township's total to roughly 20 pedestrian-activated devices placed over the past 15 years. Both the Wolfangel Road and Birney Lane corridors were flagged as moderate-priority improvement zones in the 2023 Anderson Trails Plan Update.

The signals flash only when a pedestrian or cyclist presses the activation button. Motorists are not required to stop, but the lights warn drivers that someone is crossing, according to the township's April 2024 newsletter.

Jeff Newby, an engineer with the Hamilton County Engineer's Office, said self-activated signals can reduce auto-pedestrian crashes by nearly 70%, according to the township's November 2025 newsletter. Research cited in that newsletter found drivers yield to pedestrians more than 90% of the time at high-intensity crosswalks, compared with about 30% at traditional crosswalks.

When the township installed four similar beacons in summer 2024, it said priority locations were chosen based on high traffic counts, fast vehicle speeds and spots where sidewalks switch sides of the street. Then-Trustee Lexi Lausten said the work reflected years of planning. "We're excited at the efforts of our staff, working with property owners, to introduce these safety and access improvements," Lausten said in the August 2024 Anderson Insights newsletter. "All these connections stem from our 2023 Anderson Trails Plan Update."

Anderson Township's trails program dates to a 1998 Road/Hike/Bike Levy and has drawn $25 million in combined levy, tax-increment financing and grant funding over 25 years, according to the township's November 2024 newsletter. The network now spans more than 25 miles of sidewalks and trails.

The funding source for the three newest signals was not specified in available public records. Previous installations have used a mix of township funds and Ohio Department of Transportation grants.

The Anderson Township Board of Trustees next meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.