Date: Fri 06-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-Main-St-crosswalks

Full Text:

Police Commission OKs Crosswalk Safety Signs

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Newtown Police Commission has approved installing traffic signs on

high-visibility portable safety barrels on Main Street to warn motorists they

must yield to pedestrians who are in crosswalks.

After lengthy discussion November 4, commission members approved spending $500

to get the warning signs and safety barrels installed. The Police Commission

is the town's traffic authority.

The stepped-up pedestrian safety program comes following the recent death of

Wolcott Toll.

Mr Toll, 78, of 4 Pocono Road, Hawleyville, while walking across Main Street

at about 9:10 pm October 15, was struck by a car. Police have said Mr Toll was

not in the crosswalk while crossing the street.

Mr Toll received extensive injuries and died the next morning in Danbury

Hospital. The accident is under investigation.

The pedestrian safety program will involve placing the safety barrels and

signs on Main Street north of the northern entrance to Edmond Town Hall and

north of the northern entrance to Booth Library, according to Police Chief

James E. Lysaght, Jr.

The barrel near Edmond Town Hall will alert southbound motorists that they are

entering a congested area where they must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

The barrel near the library will alert northbound motorists.

Also, the safety program is planned to warn motorists that pedestrians have

the right of way in crosswalks on Queen Street and Church Hill Road.

Plans call for a safety barrel and sign to be placed in the middle of Queen

Street for southbound motorists. The barrel will be positioned north of the

entrance to Newtown Shopping Village.

Also, plans call for placing safety barrels on Church Hill Road both east and

west of the intersection of Church Hill Road and Queen Street.

Providing improved street lighting at the crosswalk on Main Street at East

Street will be discussed with borough officials, Chief Lysaght said.

Police Commission members did not support a proposal that would have placed

parallel parking restrictions on the east side of Main Street directly across

from Edmond Town Hall.

Resident Dick Simon representing the Newtown Rotary Club encouraged commission

members to take steps that will permanently enhance pedestrian safety. The

Rotary Club is willing to provide assistance for such an effort, he said.

James Gaston, a member of the Borough Board of Burgesses, said the issue of

improving pedestrian safety on Main Street dates back to 1948, when borough

officials urged the state reduce the speed limit there. The commission will

need state Department of Transportation approval to place safety barrels on

Main Street, Mr Gaston said. The DOT would then seek advice on such a plan

from the State Historical Commission, he added.

Attractive safety barrels suitable for placement in the Borough Historic

District are available, he said. Special lighting fixtures can be obtained to

focus illumination directly over the Main Street crosswalk at East Street, he

said.

Mr Gaston urged that the commission to: consider installing focused street

lighting at the crosswalk, submit a request to the DOT to install safety

barrels, and seek a reduced speed limit on Main Street.

"You take your life in your hands crossing Main Street. You really do," said

commission member Carol Mattegat.

Police Commission Chairman Robert Connor, Jr, urged that the town install the

safety barrels as soon as possible. The worst thing the DOT can do is tell the

town not to place the barrels near crosswalks, he said.

Commission member William Meyer urged that a traffic blinker light be placed

over the Main Street crosswalk at East Street to alert motorists of the

presence of a crosswalk. He also urged that the crosswalk be spotlighted.

Commission member James Reilly urged that a traffic sign bearing the legend

"Reduced Speed Zone Ahead" be posted for southbound motorists on Mt Pleasant

Road near Johnnycake Lane to alert them that the speed limit drops as they

enter the borough.