Spring Break
Concerns raised on crosswalk safety
by Miranda Neubauer
Senior Writer
News | 9/23/08
Posted online at 5:10 AM EST on 9/23/08
The University will be stationing a Waltham police officer at the South Street crosswalk between the main campus and Gosman Sports and Convocation Center at random times to urge students to press the button to use the warning light at the crosswalk, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan said.
Callahan said that a police officer was on that location last Monday. He called the decision a preventive step.
Waltham Ward 7 Councilor Joseph Giordano, who represents Brandeis in the City Council, said that he expressed concerns about the light to Callahan and Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins. Giordano said, "Unfortunately, all the kids don't use the button." Giordano also said that he, along with other Waltham residents, has "come close, especially at nighttime when it's dark," to hitting students. "Depending [on] what direction you're coming from, it's hard to see sometimes," Giordano said.
The University first installed the blinking light in September 2006, the Justice reported at the time, after students lobbied for its installation. Waltham Transportation Director Franklin Ching stated at the time that he was wary of the crosswalk in general because it gives pedestrians a false sense of security.
The preventive measures are important "so we can save lives [and] so that the person who routinely runs across the street … will maybe now reflect on what they should do and push the button," Callahan said. "Once the lights are activated, that's a sign to approaching vehicles to stop."
Giordano said that if Brandeis did not address his concerns, he would be forced to petition to the Waltham Traffic Commission for the removal of the crosswalk and the light. Then students would have to use the overpass, he said. If students were still to cross the street then, it would be at their own risk, he explained, because cars would not be obligated to stop without a crosswalk.
Giordano said, "I don't want some citizen driving down the street [to] end up hitting one of these kids. When cars are … approaching that crosswalk you don't realize it's there, especially if you're not familiar with that particular area," he said. "[If] in the last minute they see somebody crossing the street, it's very dangerous."
Callahan said that a police officer was on that location last Monday. He called the decision a preventive step.
Waltham Ward 7 Councilor Joseph Giordano, who represents Brandeis in the City Council, said that he expressed concerns about the light to Callahan and Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins. Giordano said, "Unfortunately, all the kids don't use the button." Giordano also said that he, along with other Waltham residents, has "come close, especially at nighttime when it's dark," to hitting students. "Depending [on] what direction you're coming from, it's hard to see sometimes," Giordano said.
The University first installed the blinking light in September 2006, the Justice reported at the time, after students lobbied for its installation. Waltham Transportation Director Franklin Ching stated at the time that he was wary of the crosswalk in general because it gives pedestrians a false sense of security.
The preventive measures are important "so we can save lives [and] so that the person who routinely runs across the street … will maybe now reflect on what they should do and push the button," Callahan said. "Once the lights are activated, that's a sign to approaching vehicles to stop."
Giordano said that if Brandeis did not address his concerns, he would be forced to petition to the Waltham Traffic Commission for the removal of the crosswalk and the light. Then students would have to use the overpass, he said. If students were still to cross the street then, it would be at their own risk, he explained, because cars would not be obligated to stop without a crosswalk.
Giordano said, "I don't want some citizen driving down the street [to] end up hitting one of these kids. When cars are … approaching that crosswalk you don't realize it's there, especially if you're not familiar with that particular area," he said. "[If] in the last minute they see somebody crossing the street, it's very dangerous."
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