Soon, pedestrians might have a safer time crossing dangerous intersections of State College. The State College Borough Council, in a unanimous vote Monday night, approved the plans to install pedestrian nodes on some sidewalks that have proved to be unsafe in the past.
The intersections along Beaver Avenue at Garner and Allen Streets are the suggested areas for placement of the new nodes.
"These two intersections are very dangerous and improvements are a very good idea," council member Elizabeth Goreham said.
A pedestrian node was explained as a concrete extension of the existing curb, which reduces the distance pedestrians must walk and, "should improve sight distance for both pedestrians and motorists," Goreham said.
Pedestrian safety has been an issue of concern within the State College community in the past and has became more urgent since the death of 21-year-old Penn State student, Shellie Smarowsky.
Smarowsky was killed in a pedestrian/school bus accident in December on the corner of East Beaver Avenue and South Garner Street, a proposed site for one of the new nodes. Smarowsky was crossing the intersection of South Garner Street and Beaver Avenue at the time of her death.
The 2002 Capital Improvement Program did not include funding for this project, but the council voted unanimously to allocate the funding. The council will accept bids from contractors and make a final decision at a later date, Goreham said.
Each intersection is expected to cost about $15,000 to $20,000, Goreham said.
Although the council approved the plans, it will need to get approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation because Beaver Avenue is owned by the state, not the borough, Goreham said.
"This project is too urgent not to do it as soon as possible," Goreham said. "Pedestrian safety is the main focus of the council this year."
The node placed at the intersection of Beaver Avenue and Garner Street will eliminate the use of the parking lane as a turning lane, council members said.
Many elderly people who live in Edison Court who walk to McLanahan's Downtown Market, 116 S. Allen St., will appreciate the added safety provided by the nodes, said Goreham.
The extended sidewalks will also move the traffic controller box back from the existing curb, which should improve the sight of both motorists and pedestrians, council members said.
Drivers tend to use the loading zone on the right-hand side of Beaver Avenue as a turning lane and the nodes will eliminate this illegal practice, said Council Member Janet Knauer.
Council members and State College Mayor Bill Welch agree the reconstruction will improve relations between traffic and pedestrians.
"Drivers should actually be pleased with the addition because it will get the pedestrians out of the street quicker," Welch said.
