[Vision2020] Pedestrians in Peril

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (September 7, 2009) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Pedestrians in peril?
Moscow, ITD taking a close look at recent changes on U.S. Highway 95 south
By Mark Williams Daily News staff writer
September 7, 2009

City of Moscow and Idaho Department of Transportation officials are
studying a section of U.S. Highway 95 south now that an influx of foot and
vehicle traffic has settled into the area.

Two long-expected developments have come to fruition in recent weeks that
could pose potential traffic hazards for the section of highway between
Palouse River Drive and the Styner/Lauder Avenue intersection.

The Grove, a 192-unit student housing development, opened the first half
of its planned development to students in late August for the start of the
new school year. Also, about 70 children began attending the new Palouse
Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning on Wednesday at the former
Brown's Furniture building at the highway's intersection with Lauder
Avenue.

Both have added additional foot traffic to a section of town that many
Moscow residents have long complained needs some kind of safety measure
taken.

Moscow Public Works Director Les MacDonald said he has heard only a few
complaints thus far.

One concern is about college students jaywalking across the highway from
the Grove, which similar to the situation that used to occur on Pullman
Road at the Peterson Drive intersection.

MacDonald said the city is conducting a pedestrian study - expected to be
wrapped up in the coming weeks - that will provide a better idea of what -
if any - action it will request ITD make.

"I've had one or two comments about the college kids," MacDonald said.
"The (charter) school has crossing guards as part of their operation and
we have been talking to ITD about putting in an overhead pedestrian signal
at that intersection like we have at Peterson Drive."

ITD District 2 Engineer Jim Carpenter said the state is waiting to see the
result of the city's study before making any commitments.

He feels confident Palouse Prairie already is taking the best course of
action by having adult crossing guards posted at the intersection before
and after school. The requirement was written into the school's
conditional use permit from the city. The area is not designated a school
zone, however, and the speed limit for the section is 35 mph rather than
the 20 mph typically mandated in school zones.

"For kids that age the best possible thing you can do is have trained
adults there," Carpenter said. "That's going to provide much more safety
than any electronic system ever will be able to."

Carpenter also was reluctant to commit to a Peterson Drive-like overhead
alert system for the Styner/Lauder intersection because he said the two
scenarios are different.

The Peterson Drive situation was difficult because there were long
stretches of highway in both directions that offered no crossing
alternatives, he said. In the Grove scenario, all of the students are
headed in the same direction and have an opportunity to cross at the
stoplight at Sweet Avenue to reach campus.

"That's why we need to look at how the patterns are developing," he said.
"If it does turn out that there is a common spot where students are
crossing then that's something we'll have to look at."

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A pedestrian crosses south Main Street in Moscow between the University of
Idaho and The Grove apartments on Friday.
(Photo courtesy: Geoff Crimmins/Daily News)

http://www.dnews.com/images/4071241.jpg

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Palouse Prairie School crossing guards Nils Peterson, left, and Chris
Lapaglia stop traffic at the intersection of south Main Street at Styner
Avenue in Moscow after school on Friday. (Below) a bicyclist crosses south
Main Street.
(Photo courtesy: Geoff Crimmins/Daily News)

http://www.dnews.com/images/4071243.jpg

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A bicyclist crosses south Main Street at the intersection with Styner
Avenue in Moscow on Friday.
(Photo courtesy: Geoff Crimmins/Daily News)

http://www.dnews.com/images/4071242.jpg

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown