Dawn Hawkins

1219 New York St

Lawrence, KS  66044

To:

City Commission

Lawrence, KS

Re:       Proposed Installation of Pedestrian-activated Cross-walk at 11^th between New Jersey and New York

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing to you with my concerns regarding the pedestrian-activated cross-walk that is proposed to be installed at or near the alley on 11^th Street between New York and New Jersey.  This proposal was passed at the November 2006 TSC meeting by a margin of 6-2.

The idea of a push-button lighted crosswalk was first put forward to the Traffic Safety Commission in May of 2004.  This request was specifically for the installation to be at the intersection of 11^th and New York .  The request was denied by the TSC and it wasn’t until the request was before the City Commission in January of 2005 that we were told that a push-button light at an intersection would require signalizing the intersection.  It is not feasible to have a signalized intersection so close to 11^th and Connecticut, where a 4-way stop exists. 

At this same January 2005 meeting, the CC unanimously directed City staff to “develop options for a safe crossing on 11^th Street between New York and further east and present those options to TSC for recommendations.”   I am unclear as to what options have been proposed or if there has been any communication between City staff and neighborhood parties on this matter.

Attempts to find a solution to the problem of getting children and other pedestrians across 11^th street safely has been a frustrating process.  Each time a proposal is put forth, the TSC or the Traffic Safety Engineer denies the request.  To my knowledge, there have been little if any solutions offered by the City. 

Now, because of lack of any other solution, the TSC has marginally approved installation of a pedestrian activated crosswalk at an alley.  I have many concerns about this proposal and they are outlined here:

Loss of current safe crossing signage

· Installation of the light requires removal of the current school-zone beacons and 20mph speed zone on 11^th. (per David Woosley at the November 2006 TSC meeting.)  This means that school children who choose not to use the lighted-crossing will not have the benefit of the before and after school diminished speed and drivers will not be aware that there may be school children crossing.

· Installation of the light would necessitate removal of the current pedestrian crossing at New York and 11^th.  Pedestrians, including New York School children, who choose not to utilize the alley crossing will have fewer safeguards in place for them.

Lack of use

· The lighted-crossing may not be highly utilized by school-children that live west of New Jersey, as it would require walking ½ a block out of the way and ½ a block back to continue the walk towards the school.  As it is, many children crossing 11^th at New York unfortunately don’t even cross over to the current pedestrian cross, choosing to cross on the west side of the intersection instead.  It would seem unlikely that these same children would bother to walk even further to cross safely.

· New York street tends to get many north/southbound pedestrians who prefer not to walk on Connecticut.  This pedestrian traffic may not fully utilize the more distant crossing at the alley.

Placement of the lighted-crossing at the alley is dangerous

· Placement of the lighted-crossing at the alley is very unusual and could confuse vehicular traffic.

· Current traffic is already accustomed to the current crossing (whether they abide it or not!)

· Cars stopping and starting from the mid-block crossing may not be as likely to stop again for pedestrians crossing at New York St., particularly since the current signage will be removed.

· Placement of the lighted-crossing at the alley would be dangerous for children and other pedestrians as the light would not govern alley traffic.  Trash trucks, utility trucks and other vehicular traffic utilize alleys.   This traffic will not be able to see the lights stopping the east/westbound traffic and could pull out onto 11^th and strike a pedestrian.  This reasoning is similar to the reason that the push-button light cannot be placed at the intersection without fully signalizing the intersection.

· Children on their way to school will be likely to continue walking down the alley to school.  The school can be seen from the alley at this spot.  It would be dangerous to have children walking down the alley rather than on street-side sidewalks.

As an alternative to the proposed alley crossing, I offer the following:

Create a 4-way stop at 11^th and New York, with a raised-grade crossing similar in design to those recently installed in the 600 and 900 blocks of New Hampshire.  This 4-way stop would be less likely to interfere with traffic feeding from the 4-way stop at 11^th and Connecticut than if the intersection were fully signalized.  The 4-way stop would be much less expensive than installing a pedestrian-activated signal.  The raised-grade crossing would make a more visible crossing in varying weather conditions, and would force vehicles to slow down and stop.  The costs associated with the raised-grade crossing could become higher if there are storm-water issues, but I would assume the proposed crossing at the alley would have a similar change of grade.

There may be other solutions.  A traffic-island is not desirable to many in East Lawrence as they tend to be hazardous to cyclists, forcing them into the curb.

It is not my intent to further delay action on this issue which has been before the City since May of 2004.  It is certain that something needs to be done to ensure safe pedestrian passage of 11^th Street as soon as possible. 

I encourage the Commission to consider the implications of the proposed alley crossing and to consider the proposal I have put forth herein.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Dawn Hawkins

New York School parent