Crosswalk

LACONIA — When the Department of Public Works began reclaiming the roadbed, laying the sidewalks and setting the curbing on North Main Street, the City Council, at the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, decided to place a crosswalk for school children at the Pleasant Street intersection. But, installing a crosswalk is not as simple as painting lines on the street.

When councilors began discussing the crosswalk, Frank Tilton, Director of Public Works, cautioned that simply painting a crosswalk on the street may offer more convenience than security to pedestrians. In particular, he warned that a crosswalk could encourage children to become complacent. "If you have a crosswalk," he said, "protect it with a traffic light or a crossing guard."

Councilor Paul Bordeau (Ward 1) said that "in theory crosswalks may lull pedestrians into a false sense of security," but added that school children, particularly those from the Middle School, crossed North Main Street at Pleasant Street because it is the shortest distance. He said that is his experience children were taught at home and at school to be vigilant whenever and wherever they crossed a busy street. "A crosswalk," Bordeau said, "tells you where you should cross because it may assist you."

Ultimately the Public Works Committee recommended and the City Council approved the crosswalk on the condition it was augmented by a warning cone, a crossing guard or a traffic light.

City Manager Eileen Cabanel explained that crossing guards were funded from the police department budget. Police Chief Tom Oetinger said he thought the funds could be found in the budget, but added that "we have not been advised to provide a crossing guard." In any event, he said "we struggle to find crossing guards when we have openings. It's not a very pleasant job, especially in foul weather," he said, "and we haven't raised the daily rate for some years. It's been $16 a day since 1992."

Bordeau said he was "disturbed that the pay rate has not changed for a number of years," but added "if that is what is required, it seems like an easy fix."

The alternative is a traffic light like the one on Beacon Street East at the Belknap Mill, which would cost about $40,000 to purchase and install. So far no councilor has proposed installing a permanent traffic light at the intersection.

Although the council originally hoped to have the crosswalk in place before school opened, it could not be installed before the paving of North Main Street was complete. As that work nears completion, the time for the council to act is drawing near.