During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the removal of crosswalks in the city, which contradicts the city's goal of reducing commuter traffic by 50% by 2030. A resident from Fairway Avenue highlighted three specific locations where crosswalks have been removed, emphasizing the negative impact on pedestrian safety and accessibility.

The first location mentioned was the intersection of Barracks Road and Hessian Road, near the Meadowbrook Shopping Center. The resident pointed out that a marked crosswalk, which had been in place prior to recent road repaving, was not replaced. The city staff indicated that the crosswalk would not be reinstated until a sidewalk on the north side of Barracks Road is paved, a project currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase and expected to take years. The resident argued that the removal of the crosswalk is not justified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as it had been compliant when it was originally installed.

Additionally, the resident requested access to the engineering study that justified the crosswalk's initial placement and an estimate of the costs involved.

The second and third locations discussed were at the intersections of Little High and 10th Street, and 9th and Market, where crosswalks and curb ramps have also been removed. The resident criticized the city staff for approving improper plans that led to these removals, stating that public outcry was the only reason for any reconsideration of the installations.

The meeting underscored the ongoing debate over pedestrian infrastructure in the city, raising questions about the decision-making processes behind crosswalk removals and the implications for community safety and accessibility.