by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
Joe David McBee, Franklin County highway commissioner, told the Sewanee Community Council that the new crosswalks and lights in downtown area are “a trial” at their meeting on Aug. 31.
“The crosswalks are a trial, but we hope they will be permanent,” McBee said. McBee attended the meeting to address the concerns in response to the two crosswalks and the solar warning lights installed in mid-July, one on University Avenue at the Blue Chair and Angel Park, and the other on Ball Park Road next to the Senior Citizens’ Center. The push-button style crosswalk warning lights were installed after traffic flow studies and two years of research by the Franklin County Highway Commission, McBee said.
On behalf of the Sewanee Business Alliance, council member Theresa Shackelford brought the need for a crosswalk in the Angel Park area to the council’s attention in June of 2014. Police Chief Marie Eldridge concurred, saying street-side parking posed hazards for pedestrians. After considering options, the council voted to approve a raised crosswalk and asked Eldridge to communicate the request to the highway commission.
The installation of the crosswalks and their accompanying warning lights came as a surprise to the council and the community when they were installed in July.
“Council members were at a loss to explain [to constituents] where the crosswalks came from and why,” Vice-Chancellor John McCardell said.
McBee said the Highway Department rejected the request for a raised crosswalk due to the difficulty of snow removal and the hazard to bicyclists. Stressing the need for the crosswalks, McBee said research and traffic flow studies showed motorists did not stop for pedestrians in these two locations, street-side parking often made it impossible to see children crossing, and motorists tended to speed in the area. The highway commission chose not to include an audible warning device on the crosswalks because of possible disturbance to people dining outside.
McBee said other options were considered, but the discussion and decision-making process did not take place at the public highway commission meetings.
“We want to be involved in discussions before decisions are made,” McCardell said, echoing the frustration of many council members. McBee agreed and said, “I think communication should be better.”
Highway superintendent Johnny Woodall brought to the council’s attention that many crosswalks in Sewanee were not marked with the regulation signage and had not been approved by the Highway Commission.
In 1969, the Franklin County Commission designated all roads in Sewanee as county roads, McBee said, making the county responsible for their maintenance. All signage, crosswalks and other highway markings must meet county regulations and be approved by the county. The county does not maintain and regulate roads in the incorporated communities of Cowan, Decherd and Winchester, McBee said.
Forty-eight community members have contacted McBee about the crosswalks, with only eight residents raising strong objections, he said. Some parents expressed concern the button was too high for small children to reach. State guidelines determine the height, McBee said, and smaller children should be accompanied by adults. Similarly, the button height meets compliance guidelines for ease of use by people in wheelchairs.
Council representative Barbara Schlichting asked if a “smaller, less obtrusive” design was an option, voicing a frequently overheard community complaint.
Woodall replied signage needed to be at least 30 inches by 30 inches to meet state statutes, and there were also concerns about motorists colliding with and destroying less sturdy signs.
McCardell asked for details about how long the crosswalk trial period would last, what was being tested and on what basis would it be evaluated.
McBee said a one-year trial was planned, and he intended to revisit the issue with the council in a year to determine the community’s response.
“I don’t think anyone objects to the crosswalks,” McCardell said. “It’s an aesthetic discussion.”
McCardell encouraged residents to communicate their views through their council representatives and to the Sewanee Mountain Messenger. “This is the beginning rather than the end of a public discussion,” he said.
In other business, the council voted to appoint Pam Byerly and Dennis Meeks as Lease Committee representatives.
Responding to a question about the traffic roundabout proposed for the intersection of University Avenue and Highway 41A, Michael Gardner, director of physical plant services, said plans were “heading away from a roundabout to a simplified intersection. The state wants to keep traffic moving.” Although referred to as Highway 41A, the main highway passing through Sewanee is actually State Route 15, so it is subject to state regulation.
Schlichting reminded council representatives of the meeting with the Trustees Community Relations Committee on Oct. 14 and encouraged council representatives to be in communication with constituents so they could convey any community concerns. A community meet and greet will follow.
The council meets next on Oct. 19.
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