Crosswalks

Some of the pedestrian crosswalks in Greencastle could soon get a new look. The Greencastle Borough Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Ginny Lays, president of The Write Group Inc., to research and write a grant to help fund the new crosswalks. But, the council hasn't voted on installing the new crosswalks yet. While Lays will spend about eight hours researching federal, state and foundation funding options to support the project, she is unsure if she'll get the money for the project.

scottb@herald-mail.com As part of the Maryland Highway Administration's U.S. 40 Streetscape project, scheduled for completion in June or July, contractors are replacing eight crosswalks from an earlier phase of Streetscape, Maryland Highway Administration spokeswoman Lori Rakowski said Friday. During the $1.7 million second phase of the state-funded project the contractor is scheduled to remove two crosswalks at Cannon Avenue and Washington Street, two at Cannon and Franklin Street and four at Potomac Street and Franklin, she said.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA.-Drivers traveling on U.S. 522 in the Town of Bath are being reminded to stay alert and watch for people at crosswalks who want to get across the highway. They also are being asked to be aware of jaywalkers. "Drivers need to be extremely cautious while driving through town," Bath Police Chief James Minton said Thursday. Vehicle traffic on U.S. 522, the main thoroughfare through the Town of Bath, increases in the summer months with more people walking around town.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Drivers traveling on U.S. 522 in the Town of Bath are being reminded to stay alert and watch for people at crosswalks who want to get across the highway. They also are being asked to be aware of jaywalkers. "Drivers need to be extremely cautious while driving through town," Bath Police Chief James Minton said Thursday. Vehicle traffic on U.S. 522, the main thoroughfare through the Town of Bath, increases in the summer months with more people walking around town.

Crosswalk plans move forward BOONSBORO — The Boonsboro Town Council voted unanimously Monday to move forward with installing crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signs on Park Drive, and to look into adding speed humps to slow traffic on the approach to the crosswalks. Crosswalks and traffic-calming devices were recommended by the town’s public safety committee, Councilwoman Janeen Solberg said. The town also plans to reopen a portion of an alley off the 200 block of Potomac Street, which the town closed in 2008, Town Manager Debra A. Smith said.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Construction contracts for reconfiguring Center Square in Waynesboro have yet to be awarded. The two bids opened Aug. 28 came in at $2.8 million and $3.2 million, about a million dollars more than estimated. But Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials say the delay in awarding bids is not atypical, as they must be reviewed to ensure all components of the project are addressed. The corners of sidewalks at Center Square will be "bumped out" so they extend farther into the intersection.

Maryland State Highway Administration officials might have to curb part of their plans to renovate downtown Hagerstown's streetscape next spring. City officials told them Tuesday that plans to expand curbs and sidewalks into the street at several intersections could create traffic jams because tractor trailers might no longer have room to turn. Bill Park, the state's project engineer, said he was looking for that kind of feedback from city officials and the public. Each intersection will be reviewed to ensure there is room for turning trucks, Park said.

Christmas tree to be placed on corner of Center Square WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Waynesboro's Christmas tree will be placed on the corner of Center Square by Susquehanna Bank this year. The plan for the tree's placement received approval from the Waynesboro Borough Council on Wednesday. The request had been submitted by the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Waynesboro Inc. The tree's placement has generated controversy in recent years. After one tree snapped at the top, the organizations stopped placing the tree in the middle of traffic and instead decorated four trees on the corners of the square.

scottb@herald-mail.com Some merchants in downtown Hagerstown said Monday that traffic congestion and delays resulting from state construction projects are hurting their businesses. "I do not want to give customers one more reason not to come downtown. And this certainly is not helping," said Tom Newcomer, president of R. Bruce Carson Jewelers on Public Square. "It has definitely affected our business. " Jim Baker, owner of Hoffman Clothiers Inc. at 15 N. Potomac St., said customers call to ask, "Can I get in and out quickly?"

Streetscape project to improve downtown Downtown Hagerstown pedestrians and drivers will face a major renovation of roads and sidewalks next year, according to a Maryland State Highway Administration official. The state is expected to embark on a $1 million urban streetscape reconstruction downtown in May 1999 and have it completed by that winter, said Bill Park, engineering systems team manager in LaVale, Md. The project will be paid for with state and federal funds. Gov. Parris N. Glendening will be in Hagerstown on Monday to promote the project, which is part of his anti-sprawl Smart Growth initiative.

As Irene Giffin was crossing Leitersburg Pike's northbound lanes in her motorized wheelchair in a crosswalk, vehicles coming out of a shopping center would pass in front of or behind her, the Hagerstown resident said. “At one time, it was so close to me I could touch the car and it scared the living bejeebers out of me,” said Giffin, who uses a red flag that flies 3 feet to 4 feet above her wheelchair when she is in traffic situations. Giffin said she thought at first she made a mistake or the traffic signals' synchronization was mixed up. But each time the electronic pedestrian sign gave her the go ahead to cross, the traffic signal turned green for traffic leaving both Long Meadow Shopping Center and Stone House Square.

The Waynesboro Borough Council on Wednesday rejected a $52,000 bid to install flashing lights to help pedestrians at crosswalks. Because the low bidder for the work could not meet some specifications, the municipality will need to seek bidders again or find a company already approved by the state, Borough Engineer Kevin Grubbs said. The project will place the lights at the intersections of Sunnyside Avenue and East Main Street, Fairview Avenue and West Main Street, South Potomac and Gay streets, and South Potomac and West Second streets.

One Franklin County, Pa., municipality will be getting flashing lights to protect pedestrians, while another continues to wait for state reimbursement years after installing a set of lights. The Borough of Waynesboro will soon buy materials needed to install sets of flashing lights at pedestrian crosswalks. The $87,900 project will place the lights at the intersections of Sunnyside Avenue and East Main Street, Fairview Avenue and West Main Street, South Potomac and Gay streets, and South Potomac and West Second streets.

The Washington Township (Pa.) Supervisors rezoned land Wednesday to clear the way for Crosswalk Church to move to Midvale Road. The supervisors rezoned the former Tri Fab Inc. property, which is 6.61 acres, from industrial to agricultural. Churches are permitted uses in agricultural zones, but not industrial ones. The building will give the church 35,000 square feet, compared to the 14,000 square feet it has in the Gold's Gym complex at 118 Walnut St. “We plan on staying there.

Bricks laid last month for the new crosswalks at town square in Martinsburg have since become uneven and displaced, spurring officials to explore options to correct the paver problem. Daniel Watts, acting area engineer for the West Virginia Division of Highways, said Thursday that he doesn't think the brick itself is to blame, but isn't exactly sure what is causing the displacement at the intersection of Queen and West King streets. "It appears the bedding material beneath the brick is moving to a certain degree," Watts said.

Some of the pedestrian crosswalks in Greencastle could soon get a new look. The Greencastle Borough Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Ginny Lays, president of The Write Group Inc., to research and write a grant to help fund the new crosswalks. But, the council hasn't voted on installing the new crosswalks yet. While Lays will spend about eight hours researching federal, state and foundation funding options to support the project, she is unsure if she'll get the money for the project.

An 11-year-old girl who ran into a car while on her way to school in Smithsburg on Tuesday morning was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where she was treated and released, Smithsburg Police Chief George Knight said. The girl ran between two cars that were stopped in traffic and into an oncoming car that was traveling east on North Main Street in Smithsburg, he said. The accident occurred about 7:45 a.m. between Smithsburg High School and Smithsburg Elementary School. Knight said the youngster was on her way to Smithsburg Elementary School.

Crosswalk plans move forward BOONSBORO — The Boonsboro Town Council voted unanimously Monday to move forward with installing crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signs on Park Drive, and to look into adding speed humps to slow traffic on the approach to the crosswalks. Crosswalks and traffic-calming devices were recommended by the town’s public safety committee, Councilwoman Janeen Solberg said. The town also plans to reopen a portion of an alley off the 200 block of Potomac Street, which the town closed in 2008, Town Manager Debra A. Smith said.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- The Borough of Waynesboro is receiving some unexpected help in improving pedestrian safety. Flashing strobe lights will be installed at three downtown crosswalks thanks to behind-the-scenes work of Dave Rock and Stuart Honodel, employees of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 8. The lights and their installation come at no cost to the borough. "They felt it was important to have them in town because of the rash of incidents we had," Borough Engineer Kevin Grubbs said in making the announcement.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Fritzi Schreffler and Joe Burns took their lives in their hands Friday, crossing and recrossing Main Street for about three hours while motorists either did or did not stop as they entered the crosswalks. Schreffler and Burns were no ordinary strollers, but undercover pedestrians working with the Waynesboro Police Department to raise awareness that drivers must stop when a person enters a crosswalk. Sixteen motorists who failed that test got written warnings, but it will be different next time.