ITD considers intersection improvements

SANDPOINT — The city is proposing nearly a half-dozen measures aimed at improving safety for pedestrians downtown and at signalized intersections around the city.

They include adjusting pedestrian signals to give people more time to cross the road, installing countdown signals advising pedestrians how much time they have before the signal changes and barring motorists from turning against red lights.

More in-lane signage in downtown crosswalks and unsignalized crossings at intersections with state highway routes are also being proposed, as is an additional overhead light at Fifth Avenue and Cedar Street, the site of a pedestrian fatality last fall.

“They’re not unreasonable,” Mayor Gretchen Hellar said of proposed changes and improvements, which were developed through discussions between Sandpoint officials and the Idaho Transportation Department.

City officials are asking ITD to adjust pedestrian signals to give walkers a head start while crossing at a signalized intersection and lengthening the amount of time they have to cross before the signal changes.

The city also hopes to find funding to purchase countdown pedestrian signal heads for signalized intersections in the city, which ITD would program and install, according to the proposal.

Although ITD is tasked with keeping traffic flowing on its routes, Hellar does not believe a rule against turns on red lights will cause traffic to seize up.

“We made a case that keeping traffic moving is not as important as pedestrian safety. This is something we think can be done without causing gridlock,” said Hellar.

A member of the city’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Anthony James Joerger, was struck and killed at Fifth and Cedar on Nov. 19, 2009. An Idaho State Police report indicates Joerger, 46, was hit in the crosswalk by a motorist who was turning south onto Fifth against a red light on Cedar.

The city’s requests are being reviewed by ITD and no decisions have been made, said department spokeswoman Barbara Babic.

“I’m sure our traffic division will look at it thoroughly,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sandpoint Police Chief Mark Lock-wood is proposing a strategic traffic safety plan that will establish common safety goals and priorities throughout the city. There is also an outreach component of the plan that utilizes partnerships and education.

“It looks at the whole city, not just individual incidents. We’ve never done that before,” he said.

The strategic plan is being considered by the city’s Public Works Committee.

“This is going to be a really comprehensive look at what we can do to increase safety for all,” said Hellar.