Ledger

Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News

A UWT student attempts to cross the street, but cars still drive by.

Anyone crossing the street next to Cragle Lot knows what it's like to see their life flash before their eyes. But good news: the crosswalk may be safer in the near future.
Community groups in Tacoma are finalizing plans to make pedestrians safer when they cross the street near campus. For some time, the crosswalk at the intersection of S. 21st Street and C Street has failed to offer even the illusion of safety.
Students are concerned that the crosswalk is dangerous due to poor visibility, but soon alterations to the crosswalk location and lighting will make it safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.
The University of Washington Tacoma, the Hilltop Development Council and the New Tacoma Council and the City of Tacoma have finalized the plans to move the crosswalk up the S. 21st Street hill, closer to the railroad tracks. Pedestrian crosswalk lights will be installed as well.
Students' concerns about the current crosswalk are serious and numerous.
"I don't want to die," senior Bridget Juavelez said.
She is only one of many students who are hesitant about crossing the street at that location.
"It's a deathtrap," senior Kathryn Jendro said.
Some student drivers have also said that the hill prevents them from seeing people who are crossing until the last minute, making it unsafe to be the driver and unsafe to the pedestrian.
"There is too much going on in a short stretch of the road," senior Sudon DeSuze said. "The hill makes it worse since it blocks the oncoming traffic."
On several occasions, students will wait until they think traffic is clear, but some walk into the street unaware that a car is fast approaching up the blind hill..
"There are times when students stand at the crosswalk for multiple minutes waiting to cross the street," senior Caleb Bogar said. "Cars can't see them crossing, and the majority of the drivers only stop when students are in the middle of the street, not when they are waiting at the crosswalk."
Bogar has a unique perspective on the crosswalk problem. For his video production class, he created a public service announcement about pedestrian safety, and he spend much of time taping people trying to cross the street and the amount of traffic this intersection has on a daily basis. He is aware that students may be crossing the street while cars still drive past the person without stopping to allow them to cross safely.

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