Quincy to install new pedestrian street crossing signals

QUINCY — Eight new pedestrian street crossing signals are on order by the city of Quincy to be installed around town.

The need for the lights has become evident since the Quincy School District realigned the district to have four neighborhood elementary schools in Quincy and since the opening of the new high school this past fall. With the realignment, more students are walking to school. According to Quincy School District Superintendent John Boyd, the district has had to place crossing guards at various intersections to ensure student safety.

City of Quincy Administrator Pat Haley said that the city had received complaints about the situation from citizens who have observed students walking in areas of higher traffic. While the complaints have mostly been related to the area of the new high school, Haley said that the city decided to install crossing signals at several other crossing points as well.

“A lot of this has come to our attention since the new high school,” Haley said. “We are conscious that we are growing and are responding” to people’s concerns, he added. “We appreciate people bringing things to our attention.”

The city has been working with Quincy School District to address the issue.

“We have a lot more students walking,” Boyd said. “It’s created some challenges for us.”

Boyd expressed his surprise and pleasure with how quickly the city has responded to the issue. While the crossing signals will take six to eight weeks to be delivered, Boyd said that when it comes to government agencies, things like this usually take longer.

“That’s pretty incredible on the city’s part,” Boyd said. “I applaud them for (moving so quickly). Usually when talking about traffic safety improvements, we’re talking years, not weeks.”

At this point, new pedestrian crossing signals are planned to be installed on F Street Southwest at 10th and Third avenues Southwest; on Central Avenue South at I and O streets Southwest; on Sixth Avenue Southwest at F and C streets Southeast; and on Third Avenue Northeast at H Street Northeast and Jack Rabbit Street. The final locations for some of these lights may get shifted to provide the best coverage for the students, according to Howard Van Baugh, maintenance supervisor for the city of Quincy. Once the lights arrive, city workers will begin installing them.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].