New crosswalk, traffic light at 34th and Lancaster
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: News
The University's Student Government Association, along with the Department of Public Safety, announced the addition of a traffic light and crosswalk at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue early this week.
The three-year project began in winter term of 2005 when USGA recognized the heavy pedestrian traffic flow at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue, as well as at 33rd and Lancaster Avenue.
In order for an intersection to warrant a crosswalk, a certain number of pedestrians have to cross the street in any given hour, according to Stacey Rose, USGA's student life assembly chair.
"We just stood outside and counted people for two hours," Rose said.
According to Rose, she counted the number of pedestrians required in an hour in just 15 minutes at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue.
She also said there were many near accidents while students were attempting to cross the street.
Lancaster Avenue is also the main road to the hospital, and the crosswalks and traffic light should help hospital vehicles as well, according to Rose.
After getting positive feedback from departments at Drexel, Rose wrote up a report about the intersection and sent it to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who supported the proposal. When the city did its own research and concluded that the traffic light and crosswalk were necessary, Drexel agreed to fund the project, according to Rose.
"The school [Drexel] was very proactive, but the city gets a lot of project reports and had to conclude their own study," Rose said.
Currently, DPS and USGA, along with the Department of Planning, Design and Construction and the Office of Government and Community Relations, are working with the city and talking to contractors, according to Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president of public safety.
"It's in motion," he said.
The traffic light and crosswalk will be put up closer to the end of the school year, according to Rose.
Ceccanecchio said he is hoping to work with the contractors and start the project by the end of February 2008.
Rose also said she is also hoping to work on putting a crosswalk on 33rd Street and Lancaster Avenue in the future, as well as on 34th and Race Streets, because they are heavy traffic areas for pedestrians.
"I hope that the students react the same way that I did," Ceccanecchio said. "It will definitely help improve the safety use there."
On March 5 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Jim Tucker will host a luncheon for students in the Bossone third floor atrium. There will be presentations given at the luncheon by University facilities and public safety.
"It's a good interaction opportunity for the administration and students," Rose said.
The three-year project began in winter term of 2005 when USGA recognized the heavy pedestrian traffic flow at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue, as well as at 33rd and Lancaster Avenue.
In order for an intersection to warrant a crosswalk, a certain number of pedestrians have to cross the street in any given hour, according to Stacey Rose, USGA's student life assembly chair.
"We just stood outside and counted people for two hours," Rose said.
According to Rose, she counted the number of pedestrians required in an hour in just 15 minutes at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue.
She also said there were many near accidents while students were attempting to cross the street.
Lancaster Avenue is also the main road to the hospital, and the crosswalks and traffic light should help hospital vehicles as well, according to Rose.
After getting positive feedback from departments at Drexel, Rose wrote up a report about the intersection and sent it to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who supported the proposal. When the city did its own research and concluded that the traffic light and crosswalk were necessary, Drexel agreed to fund the project, according to Rose.
"The school [Drexel] was very proactive, but the city gets a lot of project reports and had to conclude their own study," Rose said.
Currently, DPS and USGA, along with the Department of Planning, Design and Construction and the Office of Government and Community Relations, are working with the city and talking to contractors, according to Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president of public safety.
"It's in motion," he said.
The traffic light and crosswalk will be put up closer to the end of the school year, according to Rose.
Ceccanecchio said he is hoping to work with the contractors and start the project by the end of February 2008.
Rose also said she is also hoping to work on putting a crosswalk on 33rd Street and Lancaster Avenue in the future, as well as on 34th and Race Streets, because they are heavy traffic areas for pedestrians.
"I hope that the students react the same way that I did," Ceccanecchio said. "It will definitely help improve the safety use there."
On March 5 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Jim Tucker will host a luncheon for students in the Bossone third floor atrium. There will be presentations given at the luncheon by University facilities and public safety.
"It's a good interaction opportunity for the administration and students," Rose said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jenny Roberts
posted 1/18/08 @ 8:27 AM EST
Finally! I am so pleased to see that a traffic light will be installed at this busy intersection. Trying to cross there always feels like a high-stakes game of Frogger. (Continued…)
Rob Staub
posted 1/22/08 @ 4:11 PM EST
This is long overdue. Cars coming downhill on 34th Street often don't even slow down for pedestrians crossing the street.
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