OSU students press council for illuminated crosswalks; city officials say improvements are planned

An Ohio State student urged Columbus City Council to install warning lights and additional safety measures at high-traffic crosswalks on North High Street, telling council that poor illumination has made crossings dangerous and citing an estimated cost of $50,000 for lights.

“My peers are being struck by moving vehicles within 1 mile of the Ohio State University,” the student said, urging the council to act. The student asked that the city install more precautionary signs and warning lights on the most populated crosswalks.

Councilmember Padilla and Department of Public Service staff said they had recently met with OSU student groups about the corridor and are working on short-term resurfacing and repainting work orders, medium-term marking and signage upgrades, and longer-term coordination with the university on ownership and design. The deputy director noted the corridor is part of the city’s Vision Zero/high-injury network and that some portions are owned by OSU while other portions are the city’s responsibility.

Officials told the student they will follow up and connect her with staff and student groups already working on the issue. “We are working on both a street resurfacing and looking at all of those crosswalks along the North High Street corridor,” a council member said, adding that written work orders have been issued to address faded lines and signage.