Residents urge steps to improve crosswalk and drop-off safety at Hillsdale Elementary

Parents and residents told the Westchester Public Works Committee on Sept. 9 that pedestrian and school drop-off conditions near Hillsdale Elementary create a persistent safety hazard and asked the borough to coordinate with the school district and public safety on short-term and longer-term fixes. Tara O’Neil, who said she walks her son to school, described drivers failing to recognize the school entrance and called current markings and flashing lights insufficient: “A lot of cars don't realize that. It's a free for all. We almost got hit.”

The public comment came before the committee’s budget presentations and drew credit for recent temporary steps. A committee member said Public Works had repainted crosswalk lines using reflective glass beads, relocated some warning signs and added directional arrows to increase visibility. Committee members and residents said those changes helped but did not fully solve driver behavior. One resident said the district’s decision to provide bus service may have reduced the school’s incentive to add formal crossing infrastructure.

Why it matters: The location described — Market Street near Bradford and Gay — is a school entrance with no continuous sidewalk and a crosswalk that residents said is offset from the walking route children use. That combination increases the chance that pedestrians, including children, will be exposed to through-traffic.

What was requested: Residents asked the borough to pursue additional measures including a short-duration enforcement presence at school drop-off and pick-up times, a review of whether a new flashing beacons schedule or placement could increase visibility, and continued discussion with the school district about site-specific traffic controls. A committee member suggested temporary police presence during peak times; staff said that would fall to public safety to schedule.

What the committee said it would do: Committee members acknowledged the jurisdictional complexity — the school district controls routes and bus decisions while the borough controls the roadway — and asked Public Works and public safety to coordinate. Members noted Public Works’ recent site work and asked staff to follow up with the school district and to report back at a committee meeting.

Next steps: Committee members directed staff to continue coordination with the district, consider short-term enforcement during drop-off/pick-up periods, and evaluate whether additional or differently timed flashing beacons would improve driver compliance. No formal motion or regulatory change was made at the Sept. 9 meeting.