Pedestrian Flags Mulled by Committee

The town's Transportation Advisory Committee is working on a plan to keep area youngsters safe on their way to and from school.

The committee, which reports to the Board of Selectmen, is looking into installing pedestrian crossing flags at a handful of crosswalks near schools in response to the number of traffic supervisors being substantially reduced.

The flags, usually a neon color, would be stored in tubes attached to existing street signs at each end of the crosswalks. Pedestrians would pickup a flag before entering the crosswalks and wave it to increase their visibility, according to committee member Elisabeth Carr-Jones. They would then cross with the flag in hand before depositing it on the other side, she said.

The committee unanimously agreed Wednesday to pursue the idea further. Members Jean Clark and Jessica French volunteered to survey possible locations and research the implications of moving forward.

The committee has worked closely with the Board of Selectmen and School Committee to find ways to makeup for the loss the town's 31 traffic supervisors, who lost their jobs in June due to budget cuts. Committee co-chairman Edward Starr and Carr-Jones recently presented the School Committee with a list of the 15 most critical traffic supervisor shifts, which the School Committee may now hire back.

The 15 shifts would cost $52,000 to implement, while the district would have reportedly saved more than $200,000 by letting go of all of its supervisors.

Committee members did raise questions about the proposed program on Wednesday.

Clark worried that the flags might be stolen, while committee co-chairman Jeffrey Maxtutis wanted to see a concrete plan in place, along with a way to assess how it's working, before starting a pilot program.

"I think it's a good idea," he said. "We just need to think more about it."

Money was also a concern.

Clark said the flags and holders would cost about $100 at each location. However, she said Lexington was able to implement a similar program without any public funds.

In Lexington, residents formed a group called Safe Mass. Ave. and set up the flags at three crosswalks in East Lexington after an 82-year-old woman was fatally struck in 2008 while trying to cross the road.

Committee member Michael Rademacher proposed an idea of having the nearest school sponsor the flags, while Scott Smith said he thought time and energy would be far bigger hurdles to overcome than money.  

The committee's next meeting is on Wednesday, September 15.

The proposed crosswalks:

Bishop Elementary School: The intersection of Crosby Street and Ridge Street

Brackett Elementary School: The intersection of Gray Street and Pine Ridge Road

Dallin Elementary School: The intersection of Dow Avenue and Rhinecliff Street

Pierce Elementary School: The intersection of Morris Street and Park Avenue Extension

Robbins Library: The intersection of Library Way and Massachusetts Avenue

Saint Agnes School: The intersection of Chestnut Street and Medford Street

Thompson Elementary School: The intersection of River Street and University Road