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Council approves removal of Penn Avenue West mid‑block crosswalk and directs staff to study disability parking
Summary
Warren City Council voted to remove the mid‑block crosswalk in the 200 block of Penn Avenue West, replace it with metered parking, and asked staff to explore a separate ordinance to establish a disability parking space. The move follows staff review and merchant input and cites PennDOT spacing guidelines.
Warren City Council voted May 20 to remove a mid‑block crosswalk in the 200 block of Penn Avenue West, replace it with metered parking spaces and direct city staff to investigate establishing a designated disability parking space for consideration at a later meeting.
The city’s chief told council staff reviewed the merchant concerns and measured the distance between nearby intersection crosswalks at 260 feet, short of PennDOT’s stated 300‑foot guideline for a warranted mid‑block crossing. “The current PennDOT crosswalk policy indicates that there should not be a mid‑block crosswalk unless [the location] is more than 300 feet from the nearest intersection crosswalk,” the chief said, and staff recommended removal of the mid‑block crosswalk and creation of new metered parking where the crossing now sits.
Several members of the public addressed council before the vote. One resident asked whether a formal usage study exists; staff said there was no formal count on file and that PennDOT typically conducts studies to add crosswalks but would not usually study removal. Fred Watson, who said his property abuts the crosswalk, told council he had mixed feelings but noted the crossing is used during peak hours and raised concerns about sightlines and older drivers’ safety.
Council members discussed whether an on‑street disability space should be created for a nearby organization (the EOC); staff clarified that a disability parking space would require a separate ordinance and would be brought back at the June meeting if council directed staff to pursue it. A motion to approve the ordinance removing the mid‑block crossing, create metered parking, and direct staff to investigate a disability parking space passed on roll call with five affirmative votes.
The ordinance’s removal of the crossing will proceed as a city action; staff will prepare the separate ordinance and bring proposed language about a disability space to the June regular meeting for council consideration.
