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TUCSON - A new piece of technology at the University of Arizona is turning heads and literally slowing traffic.

This summer, a solar lighted crosswalk was installed at First Street and Mountain Avenue, believed to be the first of its kind in the region.

"As a driver, I will be driving and it will be late and sometimes I would not see that crosswalk without the lights," a UA student said.

That is exactly what UA Parking & Transportation Services had in mind when these flashing lights were installed over the summer.

Cars can see the beams from more than three thousand feet away. However, the lights are meant to calm traffic, not shock drivers.

"It's not designed to look like a landing strip at an airport, but a subtle light that makes drivers say 'what's that' and slow down," said Mark Napier, Associate Director of Operations at the University of Arizona Parking and Transportation Services.

The crosswalk is not only good for pedestrians. Environmental enthusiasts can also give it an "A" plus. The lights are entirely powered by the sun.

During the day they are charged to a small solar panel so at night they can illuminate what might otherwise be a dangerous place to cross.

"It shows there's a crosswalk right there, having a lot of students walking at dark night, dark clothing," one U of A student said.

"Especially at night, it's definitely hard to see without the lights," another U of A student said.

This pilot project is efficient in more ways than one. It did not cost the university a cent. The lights and labor were donated by the Electric Supply Company and Solar Path Sun Solutions Inc.

"It makes a driver say, 'Oh what's this there's something up there,' and they slow down naturally, and that's what we're hoping to do is calm the traffic as they approach the crosswalk because we know the kids and the people at night don't often pay as well attention," Napier said.

Over the next year and a half, the university will check into the durability of the lights and see how much traffic slows at the intersection. If the results are good, more solar lighted crosswalks could be installed.