10/15/09
Blinking pedestrian light slated for crosswalk in town center
In their continuing effort to improve pedestrian safety in the town center, Town councilors on Oct. 14, 2009 approved a $21,000 expenditure for a solar-powered walk signal for the crosswalk between Key Bank and the Coldwell Banker Real Estate office on Ocean House Road.
The light was a recommendation of the Town Center Pedestrian Safety Working Group, charged with evaluating pedestrian safety and reviewing traffic-calming measures implemented in the town center.
The pedestrian light is one of three substantial recommendations from the committee for increasing safety, but the committee is taking an incremental approach in implementing them.
Sara Lennon, a member of the Town Council who is leading on the committee, said after reviewing the effectiveness of the pedestrian light, the town may want to consider the committee's additional recommendations: Installing a bumped-out sidewalk at the crosswalk, effectively shortening the area pedestrians would be exposed to traffic while crossing; and, looking at lowering the speed limit on Ocean House Road. The committee's report comes in the wake of the council's rejecting state and federal funding to install a fully functional traffic signal at the intersection of Shore, Scott Dyer and Ocean House roads. Currently the intersection is served by a blinking red and yellow light.
Proponents of the full signalization project, which would have included site improvements to the intersection, cited pedestrian and motorist safety, but the project was ultimately rejected because of the ever-growing local share that Cape Elizabeth would need to contribute. Total estimated cost of the project topped $1.1 million at last estimate.
During the past year, while councilors were deciding whether to proceed with the project, less costly traffic-calming measures were installed in the town center. These include more visibly marked crosswalks, with orange flags available for pedestrians to carry when crossing the road. Additional crosswalks have been added at the Ocean House Road intersection with the High School entrance; and, across Shore Road along the east side of Ocean House Road.
However, the pedestrian safety working group still had concerns over pedestrians crossing Ocean House Road, particularly children heading for the new convenience store at Jonesy's Mobil station. A crosswalk there, however, was not feasible due to vehicle speed and limited sight distance, Lennon said.
Instead, all pedestrians will be encouraged to cross where the solar-powered walk lights will be installed. "What we're strongly trying to do is to get kids to stop running across there, to cross in the appropriate place because it's much safer," Lennon said. Coaches and other adults working with Middle School children may also be asked to encourage proper crossing.
The pedestrian-activated lights blink yellow when a button is pressed by someone waiting to cross, according to the committee's report. Councilor Paul McKenney said at the meeting that he has seen blinking lights and bump-out sidewalks calm traffic effectively in other areas, particularly in Canada.
David Sherman, another councilor, said examples of the lights can be seen closer to home on Preble Street extension in Portland, near Back Cove.
Examples of the bump-out sidewalks at a crosswalk can be seen in front of the Eastland Hotel on High Avenue, also in Portland. "The sidewalk actually extends out so that the area you need to cross is not so wide," said Town Manager Michael McGovern.
With its action to authorize funding for the blinking pedestrian light, the council disbanded the working group. The group was authorized by the council in December 2008, and included Lennon, School Board member Mary Townsend, and citizen representatives Cynthia Dill and Tom Kinley.
Funding for the pedestrian light will come from a 2008 bond issue for town center sidewalk and drainage improvements.
Improving pedestrian safety in the town center is one of the Town Council goals for 2009.
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