I agree as well
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Marrotte <dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx>
To: wsmac <wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Jun 4, 2019 11:00 AM
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Pedestrian Activated Crosswalk at Main Street & Capt. Bill
Hartley Ave.
Hello Carson,
I agree completely with your view.
A Friend here in Westbrook from back in the 60s and 70s told me about Central
Street being a primary Walking route to downtown from Mechanic, Central
Streets, that disappeared when Wayside Drive was built, now WCD. Human Nature
uses the straightest, shortest route from A to B.
A Concern I have is when the WCD's western end from the Saco Street
Intersection thru The Intersection with New Portland Road and Conant Street is
rebuilt and WCD West bound and East bound then has 2 Thru Lanes in both
Directions,
it will become a Racetrack. And Pedestrians will be Secondary to Traffic
Movement. The only impediment to that and Pedestrian Safety will be the Traffic
Signals and the Pedestrian Activated Pushbutton Controlled Crosswalks at each
Intersection.
Dennis
On Jun 4, 2019 9:48 AM, "Carson Wood" <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good Morning Dennis.
Westbrook does not have a J walking ordinance.
For your own sanity, we can offer every opportunity for folks to do what we
might want them to do but, until the end of time it simply will not work due to
human nature.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@ freelists.org] On Behalf ;
Of Dennis Marrotte
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2019 7:16 AM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Pedestrian Activated Crosswalk at Main Street & Capt. Bill
Hartley Ave.
Good Morning Everyone,
Reading Carson 's description of his Learning to use his Sense of Hearing in
order to safely walk across busy Intersections here in Westbrook is Amazing. I
Congratulate him and people who have had to learn to deal with impaired or loss
of Vision in their daily Lives.
At the same time, Over the past few days, I have observed Westbrook residents
apparently with Normal Vision and with both Teenagers or Children with them,
Walk Across WCD in both Directions East of The WCD and Mechanic Street
Intersection, Ignoring the Pedestrian Activated Crosswalk Controls and / or
walking across WCD while Traffic was moving where there is a Post mounted with
back to back Signs, visible from both sides of WCD, from Central Street at
Sportsmens Hardware and the Municipal Public Parking Lot, with an ----> " Use
Crosswalk " Pointing towards the Mechanic Street Intersection.
The same Practice has been seen at the Busy Intersection of WCD and Stroudwater
Street - An Adult Man with two young Boys jogging across WCD from the
Westbrook Market side of the Intersection, Where there is NO Marked Pedestrian
Activated Crosswalk and with WCD Traffic in Motion.
The City has spent $$$$$ ? Funds to improve Pedestrian Safety for Residents
and Visitors alike at these Intersections within the Rules of the DOT, with the
still waiting exception of the
" T " Intersection of Main and Stroudwater Streets. But some people can Not
Wait and are also setting a Bad and Dangerous Example for young people, when
they make the Decision to cross a busy Roadway, while ignoring the Safety
Controls installed.
Dennis
On Jun 3, 2019 6:22 AM, "Carson Wood" <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I learned to travel without pedestrian signals.
When crossing a T intersection, the signal to cross without a ped signal is
hearing the traffic starting to move into a left turn. This means a green light
is activated in the direction the ped wants to go.
The ped needs to be sure no right on red drivers are coming.
Once at the center of the road the traveler must look right to actually stop
the left turner while the crossing the second half of the street.
There is no other way outside of all stop for pedestrians signal.
The need to stop left turners is the same with a ped signal.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@ freelists.org] On Behalf ;
Of John Brooking
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2019 6:35 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Pedestrian Activated Crosswalk at Main Street & Capt. Bill
Hartley Ave.
I don't think the photo came through to the list, but I think you're describing
the conflict I've drawn out in the map below. The blue line is you, and the red
is the driver. Is that right? (Carson: the picture shows where Hartley Avenue
ends at Main Street, with Main Street running left and right across the
picture, and Hartley coming up from the bottom. I've drawn arrows to show
Dennis crossing Main Street in the crosswalk to the left of the intersection,
and traffic turning left from Hartley Avenue towards the crosswalk.)
If so, then it seems to be the identical dynamic to the WCD/Hannaford
intersection: A "T" intersection, with a pedestrian signal active at the same
time as "parallel" traffic (which is actually all turning one way or the other)
has their green. I'm not traffic engineer, but it seems to me that the fact
that it is a T intersection changes the dynamics considerably, and not in a
good way, from a normal 4-way intersection. In the 4-way case, most of the
parallel traffic with the green would truly be parallel, not turning, therefore
not conflicting with the walking pedestrians. It seems to me that in a T
intersection, you're more likely to introduce conflict with left turners
because there is no through option. A higher ratio of the traffic will be left
turners. If the signal is traffic activated, I suspect it's almost guaranteed
to have left turners, as right turners may be able to turn right on red and
maybe don't activate the sensor in that case. (That part is just a guess.)
On Sun, Jun 2, 2019 at 5:41 PM Dennis Marrotte <dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx >
wrote:
The Attached Photo reference is across Main Street from the Public Safety
Building, looking towards
" The Little Red Schoolhouse " Daycare Center. Capt. Bill Hartley Avenue is the
short connecting Street from Main Street to WCD.
On Saturday morning, I had to park my Truck where it is in this Photo as Main
Street was closed for the start of the WTD Parade. I paid $10 for the whole day
and evening after returning from moving Used Books from the Library.
After the Fireworks last night, WSMAC cleaned up everything, Me and the Tarbox
Family. I had my small 2 Wheel Dolly with a Cooler and Tarp and walked back to
my Truck wearing a Bright Yellow Jacket from Ernie's Bicycle Shop.
In the photo is the Pedestrian Pushbutton Activated Crosswalk from which I
walked across Main Street to the Driveway and my Truck. I pushed the button and
heard the "WAIT " Audio voice. Shortly, the White Walking Figure came up
across the street. I started across. Main Street diea Not have a raised Median.
Halfway across, Capt. Bill Hartley Avenue. Left and Right Turning Traffic got a
Green Light and a van or small SUV came Zipping out turning Left onto Main
Street, towards Riverbank Park, never stopping and I know the Driver was me
because we made Eye Contact ! All OK, BUT, We need to have Illuminated
Overhead
" WATCH FOR PEDESTRIANS ON LEFT TURNS " Signs there and at Hannaford's Two
Exiting Left Turn Lanes into WCD.
Dennis Marrotte
