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Page 3 Traffic Meeting Minutes October 13, 2004 ________________________________________________________________________ The residents are especially concerned since a person was killed when trying to cross Delmar on the crosswalk at Center Drive. Another resident mentioned that it is dangerous for pedestrians to use the crosswalks since the lights in that area are dim, not bright. Also, in some cases the crosswalks signs are covered by the foliage of the trees. Ms. Welsh gave input about a City project to upgrade the lumens of the lights but she didn’t know the project’s status. She also agreed that the signs can not be seen in advance due to the foliage of the trees. Ms. Schiller brought the idea of removing the Center Drive crosswalk altogether. Ms. Schafers added that there are 2 crosswalks too close together. The crosswalk in front of the synagogue is justified and visible. A resident interrupted and said that even in that crosswalk drivers do not stop, but Ms. Schafers told him that crosswalks are not intended for drivers to stop. The crosswalk located at Center is more dangerous because drivers speed down the hill. Ms. Schafers added that crosswalks give pedestrians a false sense of security. People in cars are safer than pedestrians. Police can not perform enforcement every hour of the day. Ms. Schiller mentioned a light that changes to red when a button is pushed could be installed. But synagogue attendees cannot use electricity or an infrared activated light during Sabbath. It was agreed that decreasing the speed limit on Delmar will just increase the number of violators. Another idea was to use stop signs just during the times of the services for Friday nights and Saturdays, but Sgt. Whitley indicated that someone must be responsible for turning the signs. Maybe Center crosswalk should not be there; Police have been studying the crosswalk Ms. Schiller mentioned the idea of moving the crosswalk to the east farther down the hill. It was mentioned that the car was traveling west in the Center incident. Ms. Schafers also mentioned that there is nothing at that intersection that makes a driver think that there is a crosswalk. Tobias Gibson in the last meeting suggested a blinking yellow light to be installed in advance of the crosswalks. Ms. Schiller mentioned to put reflectors on the pavement to make the crosswalk more visible. The Delmar traffic is increased after Forest Park Parkway was closed but Delmar always has been a high traffic road. Mr. Friedman said that other accidents happened due to speed. He mentioned that he saw a car off of the road and driving over the sidewalks up to the front yards and to the door in front of one of the buildings along Delmar. He introduced the idea of a stop light, but Ms. Schafers mentioned that there is no traffic reason to install a stop light at that location. V:\WP51\Mariela-Projects\Traffic Commission\minutes\2004\Minutes 10-13-04.doc