The city can't restore a crosswalk near Allendale School because there are no ADA compliant sidewalks. An existing crosswalk connects the east side of Connecticut Avenue only.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city can't repaint a crosswalk near Allendale Elementary School because of ADA compliance even though it is heavily used by children as is.

 

Ward 2 City Councilor Kevin Morandi asked the Traffic Commission on Thursday to advise the administration to repaint the crosswalk at the intersection of Connecticut and New Jersey avenues.

 

But City Engineer Matthew Billetter says legally the city can't do it because there are not proper sidewalks and ramps on each side to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. As Chairman Guy Pannesco put it, it would be a "crosswalk to nowhere," and be a liability.

 

The lack of sidewalk would direct people to walk in the street, which could be a hazard particularly for those in a wheelchair. Should something happen, the city could be held liable for encouraging the dangerous behavior.

 

But "they're doing it now anyway," said Allendale Principal Brenda Kelley. The intersection is a real hazard with a mixture of buses, parents dropping students off, normal traffic and children walking to school. 

 

"It is just a serious safety issue. There are a lot of families and even outside of the school year there it is an issue," said resident Bob Parsons. "It is a situation where somebody is going to get hurt."

 

Morandi added that there are already indents in the partial sidewalks from when there was a crosswalk there.

 

"We are all very concerned with this and for the children's safety," Pannesco said, but there isn't much the city can do.

 

Billetter said fixing Connecticut Avenue would require funds to redo the sidewalks as well. And without a capital budget this year, there aren't any funds to do so. 

 

"Then all you need is money," he said. "I would love to see some allocated for this area. There are needs like this in every school neighborhood."

 

Conte Community School recently got new sidewalks through a state Safe Routes to Schools program. However, the funding for that has dried up and the state is limiting projects to one per community.

 

The petition was ultimately referred to Commission of Public Utilities Bruce Collingwood and the engineering department.

 

The Traffic Commission also referred a petition from Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso and Council Vice President Christopher Connell to redesign the intersection of Elm and Williams streets to the engineering department.

 

That intersection was changed slightly about 15 years ago to improve sight distance but there are still a lot of accidents, according to Connell.

 

"The way it is there is still a number of accidents there," Connell said. "It is something that needs to be looked at to see if we can improve it in anyway."

 

Connell hopes to including moving a utility pole at the intersection that has been hit a number of times. In two years, there have been 11 accidents that caused more than $1,000 worth of damage and a number of minor fender benders, according to Connell.

 

"I think it needs more engineering and discussing with the utility company," Pannesco said, referring the petition to the engineering department.

 

Billetter said the Department of Public Works and Engineering have looked at a few conceptual options already, including a roundabout.