Hancock and Clarke streets focus of GDOT study
Public Safety requested a GDOT observational study on vehicle and pedestrian traffic at Hancock and Clarke streets in order to make more informed decisions on the traffic equipment to ensure public safety, according to James Smith, district traffic engineer.
Thus far, the study concluded that if a person is walking east to west, the “peds” (walking person sign) will appear when the traffic light changes, but if a person is walking from north to south, the crosswalk button must be pressed in order to cross the street, Joe Grant, deputy chief of GCSU Public Safety said.
“Everything is functioning normal, but it is not supposed to function that way,” Grant said.
The GDOT is trying to find a way to synchronize the signals for motorist and pedestrians, and this study is still an ongoing process.
“The GDOT is responsible for the traffic signals on Hancock and Clarke streets,” Smith said. “We try to inspect all the signals on a two year basis.”
Last summer, the GDOT installed a crosswalk signal with a count down timer and push button to cross because of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle and the high volume of traffic in that area according to Sergeant Michael Baker of Public Safety.
“Around the crosswalks we’ve increased the lighting and put in signs to increase the safety because pedestrian safety is a concern here,” he said.
Other proposals have recently enabled Public Safety to increase pedestrian and driver safety by passing out pamphlets to drivers, requesting for Hancock, Clarke and Montgomery streets to be taken off of the GDOT route and requesting for the GDOT to reroute traffic, Grant said.
Audible crosswalks or raised crosswalks with flashing lights would be safer for pedestrians and it has worked at other universities Grant said. Any changes to the crosswalks on Hancock and Clarke streets must be done by the GDOT and will have to meet their high standards.
“There is a lot of congestion in that area (Hancock and Clarke streets),” Baker said. “Cars (parked) on the street cause an obstruction of vision for both drivers and pedestrians.”
Baker added that if pedestrians do not press the button to cross and start to cross the street, then they could be liable if they did not have the right of way in an accident.
Last school year, five accidents were reported to GCSU Public Safety, and only one occurred at the intersection of Hancock and Clarke streets.
Smith wants students to not disregard the signals, even if they are in a hurry; he believes that students still need to obey the laws.
Overall, Baker, Grant and Smith agreed that pedestrians and drivers need to pay attention, and that they are doing what they can to ensure public safety.
Students are feeling optimistic about the GDOT study on the crosswalks.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 6 2009. Filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
