Trustees approve downtown sidewalk, curb and crosswalk safety upgrades

Jim Palmer, village administrator, told the board the downtown curbing and sidewalk improvements approved at the last meeting will begin next week and include new curb cuts, handicap ramps, a small median at Craft and Park Place and sidewalk bump-outs intended to calm traffic and reduce pedestrian exposure.

"...reducing the exposure of the pedestrian in the crosswalk, allowing a little break for the pedestrian, with a median," Palmer said, describing the project as a traffic-calming and visibility-improvement effort. He said work will continue at Pond Field and Valley, where the crosswalk will be moved about 10 feet to improve sightlines and a new island will be rebuilt. Metro-North will install sensors and cameras at the underpass to document commercial-vehicle strikes, Palmer added.

The board approved the item by voice vote and the mayor and trustees acknowledged the work may extend into the new year depending on weather and contractor progress. Trustees were told some temporary traffic devices (bollards/yodachs) in the underpass will be removed once permanent medians are rebuilt.