Select Board tables larger crosswalk changes, approves downtown red-and-white painting

The Wolfeboro Select Board on April 1 agreed to delay broader policy changes on downtown crosswalks pending additional review and coordination with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the town’s consultant Stantec, and approved a downtown crosswalk painting plan.

Town Manager James Pineo briefed the board on two petition warrant articles passed March 10: one asked to maintain the current crosswalk configuration (passed with 57%); another sought to revert parking adjacent to a crosswalk (passed with 68%). Stantec recommended adopting Article 22, the memo said. Board members raised concerns about potential liability, appropriate engineering review and pedestrian safety data. Linda Murray said she wanted more time to review the Stantec response and noted two recent pedestrian strike incidents; the board voted to table the broader crosswalk discussion until its April 15 meeting to allow NHDOT and Stantec input as well as further study (motion to table approved 5-0).

Separately, DPW Director Steve Randall proposed a specific painting plan for the downtown crosswalks — solid red with white border and six white stripes perpendicular to the borders — and sought authorization to engage a subcontractor for painting in May. The board voted 5-0 to approve the red-and-white painting plan despite noting that NHDOT guidance on stripe counts differs; Mr. O’Brien said the board would proceed with six stripes.

Implications: The Select Board paused any larger configuration changes until engineering review and legal exposure questions can be clarified, while moving forward with a visual pavement-marking approach the town believes will increase pedestrian visibility.

What remains: The substantive policy decisions on crosswalk layout and parking adjacent to crosswalks will return to the board after NHDOT and Stantec input and further review; the painting plan can proceed as authorized.