Description
Back in May 2016 the DPW closed my original ticket Issue ID: 1829097 stating that the crosswalk located in front of 406 Lincoln St. would be repainted. This crosswalk hasn't been repainted. Can you please advise an ETA for when this will be completed instead of closing the ticket? Also it would be nice to have speed limit signs posted along Lincoln St. and speed enforcement signs indicating to drivers that they are exceeding the speed limit. People are speeding down Lincoln St. at very high rates of speed and are not stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks. These issues have also been reported during a few traffic commission meetings as well. There have been numerous reports of city-wide improvements. It would be nice to see some of these improvements made to the French Hill section of town. Thank you!
also asked...
A. Crosswalk re-painting.
9 Comments
Program Administrator (Verified Official)
Acknowledged Public Works Dispatch (Verified Official)
Public Works Dispatch (Verified Official)
Carrie-Ann (Registered User)
Program Administrator (Verified Official)
I will double check on the crosswalk painting for you. We painted some ourselves and sub-contracted others this year. I will get that info as soon as possible.
As far as Carrie-Ann's comment is concerned about not counting on us to do anything about the signage, let me re-iterate the sign situation:
As far as adding additional signage to this particular crosswalk as suggested, it has been determined by the City's Traffic Commission, that no additional signage is required. It is also my understanding that the City has had discussions with representatives of the Artist’s Lofts Condominiums about their supplying their own pedestrian sign in the middle of the roadway with the understanding that they maintain it (i.e. put it out and take it in each day) just like the signs on Main Street that are maintained by business owners there. I assure you that there has indeed been much discussion and thought spent on determining the best course of action in this matter. In the end, it comes down to the unfortunate fact that this a poor location for a crosswalk. It was approved as part of the initial site plan for the condominiums, however, the Department of Public Works/Engineering Division was never a proponent of the location. In fact, we opposed it. The buildings location is a short distance from the fully signalized intersection at Lincoln Street and Pleasant Street. There are pedestrians signals at that intersection. It is because if this proximity (350 ft) that an additional crosswalk is unwarranted. If residents truly feel unsafe by traffic conditions directly in front of the building, you have the option available to cross safely at Pleasant Street. Is this ideal or convenient? That’s a matter of opinion to the person crossing the street. Still, the option exists and it meets all existing requirements for safely crossing the street.
We take safety VERY seriously here at DPW. However, we are also bound by City, State and Federal regulations as they relate to roadway design/layout and signs. We don't ever ignore matters .
DPW 508-624-6910
Jo (Registered User)
Closed Program Administrator (Verified Official)
I spoke with our General Foreman this morning who confirmed that the crosswalk was in fact painted earlier this summer by our crews. They went so far as to hold off until Howland Street had been re-paved so the trucks wouldn't mark up the fresh paint. I further followed up by driving over there to take a look for myself, and I can confirm that the crosswalk has been re-painted.
You have to understand that thousands of vehicles a week drive over the painted lines. Couple that with the elements, and the paint distresses fairly quickly. This is why we have an annual maintenance program. Your crosswalk is part of that program and will be painted again next year with all of the other city crosswalks.
DPW 508-624-6910
Reopened artguy (Registered User)
I can assure you the crosswalk WAS NOT painted at anytime since winter ended. In addition, Councillor Irish told me personally last year that the repainting would be to fill in the WHOLE crosswalk area with high visibility green paint so that perhaps additional signage would not be needed.
I spoke to Councillor Irish again this week and he acknowledged it doesn't appear to have been painted.
Why would it appear unpainted??
Because it wasn't painted. Perhaps whomever have you the info is confusing this with another crosswalk. But looking at several in our area, none have been painted. They are still a drab off white that has faded and peeled.
Many residents attended traffic commission meetings and were told additional police patrols and bicycle officers would be keeping an eye on this. I haven't seen any yet. Other than the officers who are a few cars behind cars that blow right through.
Like it or not, it IS a crosswalk that was approved, and has every right to be maintained by the DPW and monitored by the police.
I was in the crosswalk today and three cars blew right by me about a foot away from where I was standing.
I'll bet if it were YOU standing there you'd get angry enough to do something. For some fun, get a coffee at the coffee loft and then sit outside at a table for a bit. Count how many times people don't stop for pedestrians. And then come back to this app and tell me what you saw.
Let's get this thing fixed, or else someone is going to be injured. And then the city will have a completely different problem on their hands.
Closed Program Administrator (Verified Official)