Crosswalks

New traffic signals on Public Square Shoppers and workers in downtown Hagerstown will not be able to cross Public Square diagonally as of Friday, city officials said. New traffic signals at the intersection of Potomac and Washington streets will be activated on Friday, said City Engineer Bruce Johnston. As a result of traffic light changes, pedestrians will have to cross one street at a time, Johnston said. Barrels will be placed temporarily at the corners to warn pedestrians not to cross diagonally, he said.

Boonboro keeps tax rate Boonsboro Town Council members decided Monday night to maintain their constant tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. The town will maintain a tax rate of .3223 per $100 of assessed value, town officials said. The rate is applied to residential property in town, Town Manager Debra Smith said. Police buying a new cruiser The Boonsboro Police Department is preparing to buy a new police cruiser that will cost about $28,000, town officials said at a Boonsboro Town Council meeting Monday night.

Waynesboro's new police chief can't explain why the town has had so many pedestrian accidents, but he can tell you what he wants to do about it. On Mark King's wish list are countdown timers for crosswalks, bumped-out sidewalks, a program to raise drivers' awareness and specially lighted crosswalks. While financial restraints ultimately will shorten that list, King has been willing to listen to any ideas to improve safety on borough streets. Borough leaders have met several times with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and are awaiting the results from PennDOT's Local Technical Assistance Program study.

WAYNESBORO, PA. - A 93-year-old Waynesboro man killed Tuesday while crossing South Potomac Street became the second pedestrian fatality in the borough in eight months. Joseph J. Stewart, of Foulger Street, crossed from the west side of the street and into the path of a 1998 Ford pickup truck driven by Robert L. Walker, of North Garfield Street Extended, at 9:50 p.m., Waynesboro police said. Stewart, who was crossing near Gay Street and not in a crosswalk, was pronounced dead at the scene.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - The final redesign of Waynesboro's Center Square will be done this fall, and construction to reconfigure it is scheduled to begin in spring 2008, Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger said Monday. Hamberger will update the Waynesboro Borough Council on the center square situation Wednesday evening. The $1.3 million reconfiguration has been a 10-year project, with past councils alternately deciding to proceed with and halt the process. The latest approved plans show bricks on sidewalks and crosswalks, but not travel lanes as some residents wanted.

Second-graders at Salem Avenue Elementary recently spent two days at Children's Village, off Mount Aetna Road. One day was spent learning about fire safety. The students learned the importance of having working smoke detectors, how to call 911 in an emergency, and to “stop, drop and roll” if on fire. They also toured a burned-out home to see the damage heat and fire can do. The next day was spent learning how to be safe in the community, including how to use crosswalks safely and not to talk with strangers.

Stop signs, crosswalks approved BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The intersection of Mercer and Independence streets will get four-way stop signs, Mayor Susan J. Webster said at Tuesday night's Bath Town Council meeting. Webster said the four-way stop at the intersection was requested two years ago but was never approved by the West Virginia Department of Highways. She met recently with DOH Safety Engineer Randy Sigley and Morgan County highway administrator John Coleman, and Sigley approved the request.

scottb@herald-mail.com While the second phase of the Maryland Highway Administration's U.S. 40 Streetscape project in downtown Hagerstown is still under way, the state agency wants to know if the city is interested in having the third phase done as well, City Engineer Rodney Tissue told the Hagerstown City Council Tuesday. The council members indicated their support of the continuing state project. It is better to ask for it now than to beg for it later, Councilman Kristin B. Aleshire said.

Mayor holding off on alley entrance signs SHARPSBURG - Sharpsburg Mayor Hal Spielman said Monday night he was holding off on ordering alley entrance signs noting that state access is limited to local traffic. After last month's unanimous vote for the signs, the mayor got a call from Councilman J.W. Eichelberger, Spielman said. Eichelberger, who is a Maryland State Police trooper, told Spielman he wasn't sure how the signs would be enforced, Spielman said. Eichelberger was not at Monday night's meeting of the mayor and Town Council.

andrews@herald-mail.com WILLIAMSPORT - A self-proclaimed jaywalker, Mayor John W. Slayman on Monday criticized a local police campaign to protect pedestrians and clamp down on violators. The Washington County Sheriff's Department, the Hagerstown Police Department and the Smithsburg Police Department have a $5,000 pedestrian safety grant from the Maryland State Highway Administration. They may use the money to pay officers to watch for pedestrians who don't use crosswalks and motorists who recklessly go through intersections, said Kellie Boulware, a spokeswoman for the State Highway Administration, which issued the grant.