Commission hears low‑cost street changes to improve pedestrian safety

Thomas Derty presented visual examples and research supporting low‑cost pedestrian safety interventions such as painted bumpouts, painted curb no‑parking zones, and temporary delineation (durable paint or planters) to improve sight lines and shorten pedestrian crossings. He noted that full curb reconstruction and stormwater relocation are expensive, and recommended testing paint or low‑cost temporary installations at high‑incident intersections (example cited: High Street and West Middle).

Commissioners responded positively to pilot testing. Aaron Flucas and others emphasized coordination with public works and cautioned about subsurface storm infrastructure under many curblines. The commission agreed that small, inexpensive pilot projects could demonstrate safety benefits while building public support for larger capital projects.

What happens next: Commissioners asked staff to identify candidate intersections without major buried infrastructure and to return with cost estimates and a simple pilot plan. No funding commitments were made at the April 6 session.