The new pedestrian traffic signal on North School Street fronting St. Theresa School will begin normal operations at 9 a.m. today.

Because it's at a mid-block crosswalk, pedestrians must press the button to trigger the walk signal.

"This is part of our effort to improve pedestrian safety islandwide," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a news release. "We can't do it alone, of course, and we urge motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution ... at all times."

The activation comes two months after a 92-year-old man was struck and critically injured as he crossed the street there. The city approved the signal for the crosswalk in October 2004.