Washington Ave. Bike Lane & Pedestrian Crossings at Erie & Union
Work has now been completed on Washington Avenue. Parking has been switched to the east side of the street with a new bike lane on the west.
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The bike lane planned for the west side of Washington Avenue will be going in on Monday, July 22. The crosswalk at Erie will be going in later this summer.
With the Washington Ave. bike lane going in on the west side, parking for cars will be moved to the east side of the street.
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As part of a paving project along Erie Blvd, the city will be making several improvements in an effort to increase safety for pedestrians. This is a direct response to the Stockade Association meetings where residents raised this issue with the police and other city officials. Here they are:
1. The crosswalk on the southern side of the intersection, the long, diagonal one, is going to be shortened. The new crosswalk will go directly across the street so that the overall length will be shorter. This is going to be put in on Monday.
2. The east-bound right-hand turn lane on Union will be eliminated. This will slow down, somewhat, cars turning right onto Erie.
3. Left-hand turn arrows are being added to the Erie Blvd. lights.
4. The signal cycle will be adapted to “leading pedestrian signals” which will give pedestrians a “head start.” That is, the walk sign will come on a few seconds before the cars get a green light. There will also be illuminated “No Turn on Red Signs.”
No strategy will completely remove the risks to pedestrians crossing a busy four-lane road. However, this is a definite step in the right direction.