Kent considers getting rid of crosswalks to make more crosswalks
Jun 21, 2016, 6:09 AM
A crosswalk with a button for traffic. (Chris Sullivan, 成人X站 Radio)
(Chris Sullivan, 成人X站 Radio)
Small cities around the Puget Sound are dealing with growing pains. But what do you do when your growth outpaces your infrastructure? Kent leaders are trying to find an answer.
鈥淭he city has grown drastically over the years, with annexations and whatnot, so conditions have changed,鈥� said Kelly Peterson, Kent’s special projects, and transportation manager. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had increased volumes, we鈥檝e had roads widened, and we want to make sure that crosswalks throughout the city are safe for pedestrians.鈥�
Related: What鈥檚 the deal with Lynnwood鈥檚 new traffic signals?
Peterson said the city is preparing a major upgrade to its crosswalk system.
鈥淲e would be proposing to eliminate markings on some crosswalks,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淭he crosswalks would still be there, it鈥檚 just the markings (that would be gone). With this policy, there would be another 61 locations that would be marked.”
You might wonder why you would get rid of the markings at some spots. Peterson says they no longer meet the federal guidelines for a crosswalk unless they were to get lights or other traffic controls.
鈥淛ust by marking a crosswalk doesn鈥檛 necessarily make it safer. In fact, it can actually make it less safe,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淧eople have this sense of safety because the crosswalk is there, they think people are going to stop — particularly if it鈥檚 uncontrolled, meaning there is not a stop sign or a signal.鈥�
The City of Kent is considering upgrading its crosswalks by removing the markings for other crosswalks.
Under the plan, 47 marked crosswalks would become unmarked. There are more than 700 crosswalks — marked and unmarked — in the city. Most of the changes would be around the downtown core. There will be public meetings and then a full council vote before any changes can go forward.
The plan so far is to add markings to all traffic signals and add them at stop signs where appropriate.
鈥淪ome of the locations proposed for removal could have a marked crosswalk there but we need additional safety measures,鈥� Peterson said. 鈥淭hose could be some signage or some flashing lights.鈥�
Kent just added its first flashing light crosswalk on Kent-Kangley Road near 104th Street.
