FROM THE WARREN REPORTER (NJN Publishing)
Friday, October 06, 2006
By JACQUELINE LINDSAY
Staff Writer
BELVIDERE -- Resident Shawn McInerney wants to improve things for the town's pedestrians. The Belvidere resident went to the Sept. 18 town meeting to ask council to buy "Yield to Pedestrian" signs for crosswalks and dangerous intersections.
McInerney said that his family, while on vacation in Stone Harbor, found Yield to Pedestrians signs in roadways and crosswalks to be helpful for navigating. "They do work," he said. "If a person steps off the curb, cars do stop."
McInerney, who sits on the Belvidere school board, has already broached the topic to school officials, during meetings, in the spring and again last month. He approached council because, "It's more than just a school board issue," he said. "It's a safety issue for the town."
He told council that pedestrian crossing signs -- described as freestanding, foldable and illumined with bright colors -- would create an "inviting" atmosphere for people shopping in the town's business district; provide better safety for kids and adults; and aid motorists during inclement weather.
McInerney suggested placing the signs near high-pedestrian traffic areas, like by the bank, Warren County Court House, intersections of Front and Greenwich and Second and Greenwich streets, near schools and along Oxford Street. "Those streets are busy streetsthere's a lot of traffic in those areas," he said. "I think signs like that would help curb some motorists' behavior."
He said the town's police department could "weigh in" on the best locations for the signs. "It's more than just for our children -- it's for our seniors and all our residents," McInerney said. "I don't believe the cost would be too expensive for the town."
During public comment, resident William Albrecht said, "I would endorse that." He asked council to place one of the signs on the corner of Front and Hardwick streets "for the kids to cross."
In a later interview, Town Administrator Teresa DeMont said she's been working on the issue with Mayor Charles Liegel and found the signs to be upwards of $200 each. She said although council agrees the signs would be helpful around the schools, it might be difficult to put them all over town. Crossing guards could put the signs out when kids walk to and from school, but they don't have anyone who could put out the signs in the morning and take them in later at other locations around town each day.
The town administrator is looking into state funding to purchase the signs, which could be timely with a recent $74 million Pedestrian Safety Initiative issued by Gov. Corzine. According to a Sept. 18 press release from the governor's office, the initiative is designed to improve pedestrian safety with a three-pronged strategy that will be implemented by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Motor Vehicle Commission. They plan to "encourage motorists to safely share the road with pedestrians" through engineering, education and enforcement.
DeMont said council will discuss the issue again at its Oct. 2 town meeting. Members will also talk about more permanent pedestrian-friendly measures. "We're looking at not just signs, but all avenues of safe pedestrian crossing," she said.