Town crier file photo A pedestrian jaywalks on San Antonio Road. City officials are considering high-tech safety measures for the busy road.

The city of Los Altos is moving forward with a high-tech plan for improving traffic safety along the busiest intersections on San Antonio Road.

City traffic engineer Tom Ho said last week that he is finishing a request for proposal involving plans for solar-powered, wireless systems that flash lights along the crosswalk lines with the touch of a button. The technology is targeted for intersections at Pepper Drive, Hawthorne and Hillview avenues, and Angela Drive/Mt. Hamilton Avenue.

Ho said he hopes to have a consultant on board by December to design the project and, pending council approval, have the systems installed by next summer.

The city took action toward improving safety along San Antonio following a pedestrian death in April 2005. The council approved the lighting system for the Pepper intersection last October, then followed with approval of the three additional intersections at a May meeting. A version of the new system is currently in use at Foothill College.

City Manager Phil Rose said the wireless, flashing-light system is cost effective because it does not involve tapping in to underground wiring and would eliminate repainting crosswalk markings every two to three years.

“It will hopefully help the (safety) situation,” he said last week. “It just won’t help if they (motorists and pedestrians) don’t look (where they’re going).”