The scene at North Atherton Street between West College Avenue and Pollock Road is often one of frenzy. Pedestrians, with impatient drivers in pursuit, rush across the street in an attempt to cross.

The State College Borough Council is currently working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to see if a safer alternative is feasible. Ed Holmes, parking and facilities coordinator for the State College borough, said there are two major problems associated with pedestrian crossing: limited crossing time, especially at the College Avenue and Atherton Street intersection, and drivers' reluctance to yield to pedestrian traffic and vice versa.

"I cross this street at least six times a day. It's hard to cross," John Stanzione (senior-mineral economics) said. "I wish they would lower the speed limit and make all crossing lights allow you more time to cross the street."

The council implemented a method called the all-walk phase at cross walks in 1997, which allowed pedestrians more time to cross the street at a given intersection, said Janet Knauer, council president.

Recently, the council asked a company to create a computer model to see if an extra three seconds could be allotted for pedestrians to legally occupy the crosswalk before the cars start moving, Holmes said.

PennDOT also is assisting the council, said Thomas Daubert, another council member. "PennDOT is looking at areas and conducting studies to increase times on the traffic signals but also to make sure not to hurt traffic flow," Daubert said.

The study, named SYNRCHO, is in the development stage. Whether the plan is feasible and if it will be implemented has not yet been answered.

Some pedestrians who walk the streets of downtown State College believe pedestrian safety should be the borough's top priority, not traffic.

"Priority should be given to the pedestrians and their safety. It takes a lot longer to get where you are going because of the busy intersections," said Rebecca Foley (senior-psychology and women studies).

Kristen Gross (junior-kinesiology) agreed with Foley. "It's a good idea to allow more time for pedestrians to cross because many students are in a hurry to cross the street and get to where they need to be. If the cars would yield to the pedestrians, then it would be less of a chance of an accident," Gross said.