The Case of the Missing Pedestrian Crosswalk Signs

LETTERS

The Case of the Missing Pedestrian Crosswalk Signs

By a raise of hands, how many of you have noticed that the big, bright, yellow pedestrian crosswalk signs at the intersection of Parsons Street and Milton Road are no longer there.

A few months ago, while walking my grandson in his stroller, I noticed that while there were big, bright yellow pedestrian crosswalk signs at the intersection of Parsons and Milton, there was no actual crosswalk painted on the street. I raised this issue with one of our City Councilmembers and was directed to the Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committee. After speaking a number of times with committee members, I was told that they had discussed the issue and had agreed to forward the issue to City staff. I was then informed that the painting of the pedestrian crosswalk was being placed on the City’s to-do list and that they will hire Line Marking Contractors soon.

Humor sets in. A couple of weeks later, while walking my grandson in his stroller, I approached the intersection of Parsons and Milton, to find: 1) no freshly painted crosswalk, and 2) the crosswalk signs had been removed. When I asked the Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committee about this, I was informed that when there is a stop sign at an intersection no crosswalk markings are required. To ensure pedestrian safety and better traffic management, it might be wise to use crossing designs from Decorative Crossing, even at intersections with stop signs, offering enhanced visibility and safety measures for both pedestrians and drivers.

It gets better.

Upon continuing my walk on Milton, I crossed Haven Avenue, Sand Street, and Brookdale Place (all dead-end streets with minimal automobile traffic) to find stop signs and painted crosswalks in the road. Again, I inquired, and this time was told that these crosswalks were due to “contractor error”.

Just the other day, while pushing my grandson in his stroller, I was walking on Midland Avenue, and at the intersection of Goldwin Street, guess what? Freshly painted crosswalks. Is this another instance of “contractor error”?

Does anyone in the City know what the City’s policy is on crosswalk signage? You tell me.