CAZENOVIA — On Nov. 7, the Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees discussed its ongoing efforts to enhance pedestrian safety at some of the village’s uncontrolled, marked crosswalks on Route 20, in the area of Albany and Nelson streets.
Trustee Justin Fuchs introduced the topic by updating the board on his work with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) to mitigate the issues.
Fuchs said he reached out to the DOT about the idea of providing bright orange flags at the crosswalks for pedestrians to grab and carry across the street to alert drivers of their presence.
According to Fuchs, the Village of Manlius has been using crosswalk flags for years.
Fuchs said the DOT responded to his inquiry by stating that it does not approve of crosswalk flags and that, for liability reasons, it would advise against the village using them.
The trustee also announced that he has requested Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB), but the DOT must conduct a pedestrian study on the uncontrolled crosswalks before the systems can be authorized and installed.
“The RRFBs are state-owned and operated pedestrian-activated systems that emit flashing amber LED lights to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing,” he explained.
Fuchs reported that the pedestrian study is currently underway.
“They are going to start, of course, with the camera that [Village Clerk Sue Dady] was getting calls about this morning,” he said. “It’s connected to the light post of ours on the Willow Place side [of Albany Street]. It’s up on a pole and it’s looking down on the crosswalk . . . Once that’s done, then they will move it to the other uncontrolled crosswalks that we want to have the study done on. So, there’s not much we can do right now because [DOT said,] ‘We don’t approve of those flags.’”
Mayor Kurt Wheeler commented that he would much prefer the pedestrian-activated lights to the crosswalk flags.
Trustee Cindy Bell said she thinks the village will need to be strategic about its placement of the RRFBs.
“I think you’d want to do them at the mid-block crosses, especially [at] Route 13, down there, and one up at Tops,” Bell said.
Bell and Wheeler agreed that they think the crosswalks in the middle of the village downtown are “pretty good,” because drivers are not going fast, and they are more attentive.
Fuchs disagreed and pointed specifically to the crosswalk near Allure Dance Studio, where he regularly brings his daughter to dance.
“That crosswalk is absolutely terrible,” he said.
Chief of Police Michael Hayes added that he observed probably six cars drive through that crosswalk while a mother and daughter waited to cross. According to Hayes, the car that finally stopped was partially in the crosswalk.
Fuchs also recalled that while walking his son in a stroller through the crosswalk by the fire station, the cars in one lane stopped for him, but once he was out in the middle of the road, the cars in the other lane failed to stop.
“If I’m out walking, I will walk out in the street and stop [cars],” said Wheeler. “If I see a mom sitting there waiting for people to be courteous, I will be like, ‘Excuse me,’ and I’ll walk out into the street and just stop them.”
Dady added that the crossing guard at Hurd Street and Albany Street has reported almost getting hit at least once a week, despite her uniform and stop sign.
“Unfortunately, it is Route 20, so a lot of people don’t live here, they are just blowing through to get to home or to get to work,” concluded Fuchs. “It’s unfortunate that we have this unsafe condition, we are doing everything we can.”
Wheeler encouraged Fuchs to “keep pressing” the DOT because the village has received a lot of feedback from residents and college students that pedestrian safety is a concern.
In other news
The board approved a request from the Cazenovia Children’s House (CCH) to hold the Chilly Chili 5K Run/Walk Sunday, Jan. 22.
CCH is an early learning and childcare center that serves families in the greater Cazenovia area. The annual Chilly Chili race, which is typically held each January, is the organization’s biggest fundraiser.
Wheeler said the race will follow the traditional route beginning and ending on Liberty Street.
The board also authorized the temporary closure of a section of Clark St. for the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation’s annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk along the Gorge Trail on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 24.
During her report, Trustee Kathy Hahn, who serves as the village fire commissioner, reported that 60 emergency calls were received in September, with 10 for fire and 50 for rescue.
Wheeler remarked that the ratio of fire calls to rescue calls seems to be higher this year than in the last several years.
Fuchs, who serves in the fire department, also commented that the station has been getting more calls and fewer members.
“It’s a difficult ratio, and we are trying to keep the balance,” said Fuchs. “You know, people are getting older, and we need young bucks to come in and fill the void.”
The Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Village Municipal Building, 90 Albany St.
