New Pedestrian Signals Bring Safer Crossings to Pleasanton Road
Published on September 04, 2026
SAN ANTONIO (September 4, 2026) – Three new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs) are now operational along Pleasanton Road, giving pedestrians safer, more protected places to cross the busy roadway.
For residents of the Lila Cockrell Apartments, the PHB near their complex provides a safer midblock crossing to reach businesses and services across Pleasanton Road.
“We were so excited to learn about the beacons and how they stop traffic,” said Juan Vigil, a longtime apartment resident. “So many of us are elderly and use walkers and wheelchairs. We need time to get across Pleasanton Road, and the beacons give us additional protection.”
The Pleasanton Road Safety Improvements project also includes a raised concrete center median and a new traffic signal. The improvements are designed to enhance safety and reduce crashes along Pleasanton Road from Fitch Street to I-410. The City leveraged $3 million in Texas Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant funding for the project.
“We have lost far too many members of our community to traffic-related crashes along Pleasanton Road,” said District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran. “These improvements will provide safer, more accessible ways for pedestrians to cross the street while strengthening our commitment to Vision Zero. We must continue investing in infrastructure that protects lives and moves us closer to our goal of eliminating traffic deaths.”
The Pleasanton Road corridor has experienced nearly 200 serious crashes annually, including multiple fatalities. Crash data from 2017-2019 was serious enough to warrant TxDOT’s HISP grant award. Research from the Federal Highway Administration shows that PHBs can reduce pedestrian crashes by 55%. When a PHB is activated, 97% of drivers comply with the signal and stop or yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
“This project demonstrates our commitment to building a safer, more accessible transportation system for everyone,” said Catherine “Cat” Hernandez, Director of Transportation. “This is what Vision Zero looks like in practice—making changes to our streets that help people get where they need to go more safely.”
Following the news conference, city leaders and local residents activated one of the new PHBs and crossed Pleasanton Road together, demonstrating how the new signal provides pedestrians with a protected crossing.
For more information, please view this video explaining how a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon works.