The city is seeking bids for a $220,000 pedestrian safety pilot project that includes the installation of illuminated crosswalks on two busy thoroughfares.

The walkways would be the first crosswalks with in-pavement lighting on city roads, though the state has tried similar technology on highways before.

As part of the pilot project, two mid-block crosswalks — one on South King Street near the McCully Times and the other on North King Street near the Kalihi post office — will be fitted with lights embedded in the road that turn on when activated by the push of a button. Above the crosswalks, the city will install a flashing yellow light.

The city hopes to have the illuminated crosswalks installed by the end of the year. If they get good reviews, officials say pedestrians could see more of them. The lit crosswalks, officials add, are part of a push to beef up safety for pedestrians on city roads and come as the city is also installing countdown signals at hundreds of crosswalks islandwide over the next several years.

The signals flash large, lighted numbers that count down the seconds that pedestrians have to cross the street safely.

Sharon Thom, deputy director of the city Department of Transportation Services, said the city has spent $400,000 this fiscal year on the new countdown signals and plans to continue the program.

She said work on the illuminated crosswalks pilot project will likely start in September, following a study period in which the city will look at the current safety hazards at the crosswalks. The crosswalks will also be studied once fitted with lights so that the city can determine whether the upgrades are worth the cost.

The city wants to award a contract for the work by June.

Illuminated crosswalks are becoming increasingly popular, pedestrian advocates say, as a cheaper way to make walkers more visible at night.

Jackie Boland, associate state director of AARP, a staunch advocate for pedestrian safety efforts, said the illuminated crosswalk pilot project has great potential.

"The fact that the city is willing to try some new technology, I think is great," Boland said, adding that the illuminated crosswalk could be the solution for mid-block crosswalks where it wouldn't make sense to install a traffic light and a pedestrian signal.

The state Department of Transportation has tested illuminated crosswalks before.

In March 2000, the state installed flashing in-pavement lights at the intersection of Pali Highway at Jack Lane. The pilot project was active for about a year, and DOT spokeswoman Tammy Mori said the department got "overall favorable results and feedback."

She said the lights were removed when construction began on a new traffic signal at the intersection.

Then, in May 2001, the same flashing in-pavement lights were relocated to Wai'anae on Farrington Highway at Alawa Place. But shortly after the lights were installed, they were vandalized. After repairs, they were vandalized again — this time, so severely that they couldn't be saved.

Although there are no immediate plans to install any new in-pavement lights at crosswalks, Mori said "we are considering other locations around O'ahu that might suitable locations and can benefit from this technology."