Council hopes flashing lights solve crosswalk woes

Officials move to eliminate hazard on West State Street

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff writer

After more than a month’s worth of discussion and at least three different plans, the City of Burlington Common Council Tuesday was almost silent in its approval of the latest option for a troublesome crosswalk on West State Street.

The crosswalk, at Elmwood Avenue, has been the source of concern since its inception earlier this year, and the council has searched for ways to make it safer.

The hazard occurs regularly when motorists approaching the crosswalk attempt to pass other vehicles that have stopped for pedestrians. Officials said it appears the drivers who attempt to pass on the right mistakenly assume the stopped vehicles are waiting to turn left.

Among the options discussed included putting in no-parking areas with lane-narrowing markers, simply narrowing the area and providing better community education.

The latest plan involves removing crossing signs at West State Street and Maple Avenue, leaving just the crossing at Elmwood and West State. In addition, there will be pedestrian crossing warning signals places, with push button activation.

The lights will be similar to the crosswalk at Veterans Terrace on Milwaukee Avenue.

This suggestion was offered by Mayor Bob Miller at the council’s previous Committee of the Whole meeting after he listened to extensive discussion on the matter.

At Tuesday’s meeting, there was exactly one question asked: Whether the city could get by with doing just a single crosswalk on one side of the intersection?

Miller then said that the cost – estimated at $20,640 – was “a pittance in regards to child safety.”

There was no further discussion after that point.