Richfield committee keeps High Street crosswalk in existing location, citing safety over modest savings

The Richfield Streets & Highways Committee on May 28 agreed to keep the High Street/Route 176 crosswalk at its current south-side location, prioritizing pedestrian safety over modest potential savings from moving the crossing to the northwest corner. The committee voted to send legislation to the village council to proceed with the project, using funding from the capital improvements budget.

The decision followed a technical review and attendee comments about visibility and slopes. Mayor Wheeler said the proposed northwest corner is flat, while Chair Marty Kruszynski pointed to an elevation difference at the south location. Kevin Westbrook of GPD summarized the trade-off: the south-side placement sits farther from the hill crest, giving drivers about 10 seconds of reaction time at 30–32 mph, while a relocated crossing could introduce right-turn conflicts even as left-turn visibility might improve. Westbrook estimated sidewalk savings for the shorter crossing at between "hundreds of dollars" and "near a thousand," and said potential drainage savings would require a catch-basin review.

Committee members noted the original cost estimate was prepared about 16 months earlier using a 15% contingency; attendees said the final project cost is expected to remain under $150,000. The committee discussed an estimated two-month schedule for installing rapid flashing beacons and options to expedite the work for Community Day, including waiving competitive bidding and approving it as an emergency measure.

The motion to send legislation to council was approved and will be placed on the council agenda for the June 16 meeting. Staff were directed to discuss possible schedule acceleration with contractors and to include the project in the capital improvements funding plan.