10th Street crosswalk may change, city says

The city of Bloomington is considering narrowing the crosswalk recently installed between the Herman B Wells Library and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs on 10th Street.

Director of Public Works Susie Johnson said the island model crosswalk has been successful in slowing cars down, an intended function of its design. However, she said there is a perception among drivers that the space might be too narrow.

“We are considering some modifications, but nothing is finalized yet,” Johnson said.
The city installed the crosswalks this summer after the Bloomington Traffic Safety Task Force identified the area as one in need of a crossing point.

The task force was created in September 2009 by Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson following the death of pedestrian Peter Duong. Duong was fatally hit by a car while crossing Fee Lane.

Hanson charged the task force with examining pedestrian safety across campus. The group eventually recommended, among other things, the implementation of a new crosswalk model to create a barrier between cars and those crossing the street.

Junior Scott Williamson represented the IU Student Association on the task force. He said the island model serves several important purposes.

“It also slows the driver down, because whenever you put infrastructure in the middle of the street it forces drivers to slow down,” he said.

Senior Abhishek Naheta said he’s experienced the crosswalk both as a pedestrian and as a driver.

“I feel it’s better for people, but for the cars it’s worse,” Naheta said.

Naheta said he feels the crosswalk creates a narrow pathway, which tends to jam up the intersection.

Island crosswalks first went up on Fee Lane last year. The city also identified five other locations where crosswalks should be implemented, according to the task force’s report.

Williamson said the city addressed the specifics of the model when it installed the crosswalk this summer.

The University did not pay for any of the crosswalk construction because the streets are owned by the city, Williamson said.

Johnson said snowplows will be able to fit through the narrower space created by the crosswalk, provided they drive slowly.

The city is still considering modifications, but they would be implemented to benefit drivers who perceive the crosswalk as narrow.

“We’re continuing to analyze the effectiveness of the traffic island,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the city has not yet determined who will pay for any modifications.

Williamson said on the whole, he thinks the 10th Street crosswalk has been effective.

“Obviously it’s slowed down the traffic on 10th Street, but it’s a small price to pay when you consider that before, all the students using it were literally dodging traffic,” Williamson said.