Resident asks for crosswalk at Park Lane connection; board says final designs determine marking

A resident, Diane DeSimone of 270 Park Lane, contacted the board raising pedestrian-safety concerns about access from her neighborhood to Grand Island Town Park and requested a marked crosswalk and signage.

Board members reviewed the location and said the appropriate treatment depends on whether the forthcoming sidewalk construction includes a spur to the park. If a spur connects sidewalks across the roadway and creates a mid-block pedestrian desire line, the board said a marked crosswalk with signs would likely be appropriate. If the sidewalk simply continues along the road without a direct spur across traffic, members said a mid-block crosswalk would not be recommended because the advisory board generally disfavors mid-block crossings unless they connect clearly to sidewalks on both sides.

Board members also addressed the resident’s request for speed humps. Members said Town policy is not to install speed humps (or humps) on town roads because humps interfere with snowplows and drainage; that policy makes speed humps a “non-starter.” The group suggested alternative measures if traffic increases after the road opens, including roadway narrowing, on-street parking to reduce travel width, targeted enforcement or signing changes, and asking the town to conduct speed studies once the connection is open.

Board members agreed the staff will obtain the final construction plans from town engineering and circulate them to the advisory board. The board’s response to the resident will note that no final decision on crosswalks or signing will be made until the plans are complete and that the policy on speed humps means that measure is unlikely.