Crosswalks approved for MES corridor

By NATHAN LAMB | Milton Independent Staff Writer
miltonreporter@yahoo.com

Crossing guard Moe LaFrance stops traffic for a couple of pedestrians leaving MES on Tuesday afternoon. The Selectboard has voted to add several new crosswalks in the Herrick Avenue area to make it more pedestrian friendly.

With an eye toward making approaches to Milton Elementary more pedestrian friendly, the Selectboard has approved five new crosswalks near the school.

The move is to better define a pedestrian corridor between MES and the Milton High School for students and other people on foot, said board Chairman James Manley after the board’s Oct. 1 meeting.

“We were a little bit lacking in that area,” he said.

Crosswalks approved on Oct. 1 will be parallel to Herrick Avenue, and will straddle Mackey Street, Woods Court, and Barnum Street. On Oct. 15, the board approved crosswalks on Baker Lane and School Street as well.

Explaining the benefit, town engineer Andy Legg said a crosswalk clearly indicates where pedestrians cross the road. By the same token, motorists are required by law to stop for pedestrians waiting there. When properly placed and enforced, the end result is better for both sides, he explained.

“I feel very strongly that if we’re trying to define a pedestrian corridor, a crosswalk is the way to go,” he said.

On town-owned roads, crosswalks are an optional improvement that’s under the discretion of the Selectboard. It’s a different deal with state highways, like Route. 7.

The town is currently looking to complete its inter-school corridor with an additional crosswalk from Barnum Street to Lamoille Terrace, which would tie-in with the Brandy Street entrance to Milton High School.

Because Route 7 is a state highway, that move would need approval from Vermont Transit, which is often reluctant to endorse moves that could slow traffic, said Legg.

“Vermont transit is about mobility on its roads,” he said. “Towns like to define the community, and that often involves crosswalks…and other things that aren’t conducive to mobility.”

Crosswalk requests on state highways generally must meet certain criteria. Typically, a study is needed that shows 20 people per hour cross the road during peak commute times, said Legg. That approach is the opposite of Legg’s, who maintains that a crosswalk directs pedestrians on where to walk and can help generate the critical mass to meet the state requirement.

“It can often turn into a chicken or egg argument,” he said.

There could also be a third option, though: There’s already a crosswalk over Route 7 near the main high school entrance, which is there because school routes are exempt from normal requirements. At this point, Milton is pursuing a similar argument for the new crosswalk and is waiting to hear back.

Finally, there is the question of cost. Crosswalks approved by the board will cost $1,397 to install and will require periodic maintenance. While the town traditionally hasn’t budgeted for pavement markings, Legg said that could well change as the focus on pedestrian-friendly environs continues.

“It’s one of the things the Selectboard needs to juggle at budget time,” he said.