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Committee declines immediate action on Sandra Lane / Southbridge crossing; chief cites limited crossing‑guard pool
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Summary
After hearing from the police chief about limited crossing‑guard resources and parking/sidewalk constraints near the PAC, the committee voted to take no immediate action on a requested crosswalk and crossing‑guard assignment.
The Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee discussed a resident request for a marked crosswalk and crossing guard near Sandra Lane and Southbridge Road at the Park Avenue Community (PAC) parking area and voted to take no immediate action. Police and staff said adding a permanent crossing and a staffed crossing guard there would require equipment, coordination with the school/PAC and ongoing staffing that the village’s crossing‑guard pool currently cannot reliably supply.
Why it matters: the crossing is used by people walking to the PAC, and residents raised safety concerns. Committee members and the police chief said the village must weigh the benefit of adding a marked crossing and a crossing guard against the costs and operational limits of the crossing‑guard program and the need for sidewalks and ADA ramps in the area.
Police Chief (identified in transcript as “chief”) described the village’s reliance on a small pool of part‑time crossing guards and said substitutes are commonly used for coverage; adding a permanent guard to the identified intersection would increase staffing needs. The chief also noted that adding a marked crosswalk normally requires adjoining sidewalks and curb ramps for ADA compliance and that parking‑lot configuration near the PAC might need reconfiguration to create safe, accessible routes for pedestrians.
Several committee members said informal pedestrian behavior — people crossing where convenient — is common and that a marked crossing could either concentrate crossings (making them safer) or create expectations the village cannot sustain. After discussion, a motion “to not do anything” on the request was made and seconded; members agreed to defer action and invited residents or the PAC/school board to pursue broader solutions, including parking layout changes or formal pedestrian routing.
Ending: Committee members said they would revisit the request if data, crashes or repeated complaints emerge. Staff and the chief will continue to advise residents about safer pedestrian choices and to coordinate with PAC and school officials if the situation changes.
