Washington Square gets pedestrian 'scramble' crossing and street mural to ease crossings

A new street mural and pedestrian "scramble" crossing at the intersection of Portage and Washington streets in Washington Square aims to shorten wait times and allow diagonal crossings, residents said during public comment.

Unlike typical signals that let pedestrians cross one street at a time, the scramble design stops traffic in all directions when a pedestrian activates the signal, allowing people to cross straight, diagonally or any direction, supporters said. Residents said the combination of pavement art and the scramble improves visibility and access for people with limited mobility.

"If you've driven through Washington Square lately, you've probably noticed the new street mural at the intersection of Portage and Washington Street. What you might not know is it's not just a splash of color. It's actually part of a new type of crossing designed to make it easier and safer for people to get across the intersection," a resident said during public comment.

Another resident said the scramble "eliminates a lot of waiting. You can cross kiddie corner, go diagonal instead of having to cross three times and wait and wait and wait." The speaker added that the design is "great for mobility" and specifically helps people coming from a nearby senior high-rise.

Supporters also described the mural as adding vibrancy to Washington Square and as a potential draw for people to linger in the space. One resident noted that the scramble is activated only when someone is waiting to cross, which they said lets vehicular traffic continue to flow when pedestrians are not present.

No formal vote or city action was recorded in the transcript segment of public comment; the remarks appeared as individual citizen observations and praise for the new crossing and mural.