District Moves Forward with New Crosswalk

District+Moves+Forward+with+New+Crosswalk

Carl Aldinger, News Anchor

The Village of Alden is making plans to install a new system of crossing signals at three different crosswalks in the village.  The user activated signals will feature flashing lights to alert drivers of the pedestrians.  The Alden Central School District has also decided to install one of the new lights at the intersection of Park Street and Emerson, right outside of the Highs School and Middle School.  The intersection currently has no crossing guard, so the new system would be a great benefit to students who walk to school, and it will also serve any community members who want to access school facilities such as the track, tennis courts, pool, or playground.

The School is able to make muck faster progress on the project than the Village because the Village has to undergo traffic studies from the Department of Transportation.  Progress on the plan began back in the fall of 2016, alongside the plans for the Village, and has moved quickly because the School’s request went straight to Mayor Manicki and the Village Trustees, who were quick to recognize the safety concerns of the intersections and therefore approve the project.  This is also due to the fact the the intersections and roads involved are maintained by the Village.

The signs have been purchased by the District and will be installed by the District as well.  They will be available at all hours of the day for pedestrians, who will now have a much safer way of accessing the school’s facilities.