I love when a reader’s question inspires positive change.
New signs that aim to protect pedestrians are going in near Everett’s Phil Johnson Ballfields thanks to this Street Smarts reader’s concern.
Fabian Borowiecki, of Everett, wrote: “The Phil Johnson Ballfields on Sievers-Duecy Road really need a painted crosswalk across S-D or one of those flashing ‘Pedestrian Crossing’ signs at the entrance to the parking lot. People roaring down S-D during the summer while Little League games are going on more or less ignore most people crossing S-D for the ball games. People park on both the west and east sides of S-D but there is no official crosswalk to safely walk across, and cars don’t often see pedestrians until it’s too late, no matter what ‘pedestrians have right of way in or outside crosswalks’ may say.”
City traffic engineer Tim Miller listened, and “advanced pedestrian warning” signs will go in place on either side of the ballfields.
“They will be mounted on round posts that can be turned away from traffic when there is not a high parking demand, and turned toward traffic when tournaments, etc. occur. The signs will be locked in position and will be deployed by Park Rangers or other Parks staff as needed,” Miller said.
Public Works spokeswoman Kathleen Baxter went on to explain that a crosswalk is not yet possible because there’s no sidewalk on the north side of Sievers-Duecy Road, along Cemex property. Any future development of that property would add a sidewalk and ramps, opening up the possibility of a crosswalk.
Have a question? Email us at streetsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your first and last name and city of residence. Look for updates on the Street Smarts blog.
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