Pedestrians and drivers traveling in Morgantown will notice some changes at several intersections throughout the city.
The city of Morgantown says public works crews who wear safety vests will install new pedestrian safety equipment at three intersections over the next week to alert drivers of pedestrian crossings.
The intersections at Falling Run Road and University Avenue, Grant
Avenue and Campus Drive and along University Avenue near McDonald's and Pizza Al's were identified as priority intersections due to a high volume of pedestrian and vehicle interaction, according to the city.
The city says they are installing rumble strips, reflective signs, yield lines on the road and yield to pedestrian signs in the middle of the roadway.
The city, Mon County and West Virginia University formed a partnership earlier this year and developed a plan with an immediate goal to improve pedestrian safety at the three locations, according to the city. Their goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly community.
"We want Morgantown to be a walkable city and creating a safe environment for pedestrians is one of the city's top priorities," said Morgantown City Manager Paul Brake. "Creating a safer environment is why this partnership was formed. Seeing the partnership's commitment to pedestrian safety with the installation of safety equipment at these high-volume intersections."
The city says the group's plan has both short and long-term goals. The long term goal is centered on three pillars of pedestrian safety--education, engineering, and enforcement. The short term goal is focusing on projects that can be accomplished in a short time frame and have an immediate impact on pedestrian safety.
"This partnership just makes sense," said Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom. "We have to make sure that our urban centers are safe for pedestrians and with the installation of these improvements we are doing just that; in one of our most dense urban areas."
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