'I've just about been hit twice at the same light'
By Laura Rillos KVAL NewsSPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- With four lanes of traffic, crossing Gateway Street can be precarious. Crossing at Oakdale Avenue -- even in a crosswalk with lights -- is dangerous, according to some Springfield residents. The problem started, said Springfield resident John Presco, when the Lane Transit District station at the Gateway Mall moved from inside the shopping center's parking lot to alongside Gateway Street. Drivers headed south on Gateway Street, toward Harlow Road, stop at Oakdale Avenue. The crosswalk is located closer to the LTD station, several feet away from Oakdale Avenue. "These people are going 45 miles per hour, they're supposed to stop way down there," said Presco, who uses the crosswalk twice a week. "You're not aware of them stopping that far down. And they're not aware of you here." Presco said the crosswalk set up encourages red light runners. "I've just about been hit twice at the same light," said Springfield resident Sarah Meader. "One guy ran the light, another guy just about ran the light. He was halfway through before he realized I was standing there." City of Springfield spokesman Niel Laudati said the city has not received any safety complaints about the intersection. Brian Barnett, a traffic engineer with the City of Springfield, said the location of the crosswalks in the four way intersection meet federal standards for distance. "It's signalized," said Barnett. "It has crossings on three of the approaches. It meets standards." Barnett says adjustments were made to the crosswalk when the bus station was built. Those changes included straightening the crosswalk, which was previously at at angle, and several adjustments to accomodate bus riders with disabilities. One of those adjustments was adding an audio crosswalk signal, which says "wait" and "walk sign is on". Presco believes awareness on the part of drivers and pedestrians will make the crosswalk safer. "Awareness is the first step to change," he said. |
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