Resident urges improved crosswalks near Beachurst Avenue maintenance facility

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — During public comment at the Feb. 4 Morgantown City Council meeting, Justin Musser, a resident who works at the PRT maintenance facility, asked the city to consider pedestrian safety improvements at the bottom of Beachurst Avenue, including the addition of a lighted crosswalk button and replacement of a knocked‑off lighted marker near the law school.

Musser said cars typically speed on the hill and that he often waits to cross at the Sixth Street signal, where he believes the pedestrian push buttons are not functioning. He asked whether the city could install the same type of lighted crosswalk buttons that are at the top of Eighth Street and asked for a timeline for repairing the damaged marker near the law school.

Direct quote: “Cars are typically speeding every single morning… it’s frankly not very safe,” Musser said. “I was kind of wondering if there's a time frame timeline for when that will get replaced.”

City response: The mayor asked staff to take notes. Later in the meeting Public Works and other staff indicated they would inspect the intersection; the council noted the intersection may fall under state Department of Highways (DOH) jurisdiction but said the city performs minor maintenance and would address issues it can handle and report back on more substantial DOH repairs.

Next steps: Staff said they would inspect the Sixth Street crossing and determine whether the push buttons require repair and whether a lighted crosswalk button could be installed or whether the issue requires DOH action. The city did not set a firm repair timeline during the meeting.