Auburn testing diagonal 'pedestrian scramble' at Toomer's Corner; city monitoring usage before deciding permanence

A pedestrian scramble allowing diagonal crossings at Toomer's Corner in downtown Auburn began operating in early July, interim city engineer Brandy Ezell said, and city staff are monitoring how pedestrians and vehicles use the intersection before deciding whether to make the change permanent.

The scramble — sometimes called an "X crossing" — pauses conflicting vehicle movements so pedestrians may cross in all directions, including diagonally, during the pedestrian phase. "Once that walking man is up, pedestrians can go," Ezell said. "Otherwise, they shouldn't be." She said the city is watching video feeds and conducting in-person observations to measure how many people use the diagonal crossing and whether vehicle flows are affected.

Why it matters: The intersection at Toomer's Corner is a…