Petition to Circulate Regarding Highland and Sinclair Crosswalk

A petition will be available starting Saturday regarding the location of the proposed crosswalk at Highland Avenue and Sinclair Place.

Karen Karnofsky, a local resident who along with her husband, Brian, addressed the Town Council about the issue on Tuesday evening, is spearheading the petition drive. The petition will be located on the porch of the Karnofskys' house at 618 Highland. The proposed crosswalk on Highland is located next to the Karnofskys' driveway and the couple and others in the neighborhood have expressed concerns about the safety of the proposed crosswalk.

The Karnofskys are opposed to the proposed crosswalk saying that it would be dangerous for children given there will be little visibility as someone backs out of their driveway. The location of the crosswalk would require a utility pole to be moved which the couple said would create a blind spot. During Tuesday's Council meeting, the couple presented photos from a controlled experiment they conducted showing the potential for danger. The couple has asked for the crosswalk to be relocated to the other side of Sinclair, adjacent to their house but not the driveway.

The couple is also in favor of a crosswalk across Highland at the intersection with Colonial, which would be adjacent to their property.

Councilman Mark Ciarrocca said during the Council meeting that the crosswalk should be next to the Karnofskys' driveway because it would allow children to cross Highland and be on the same side of the street as Franklin Elementary School. Crossing at the location suggested by the Karnofskys would require children to cross Sinclair again, either at the same intersection or with a crossing guard at the intersection with Lawrence Avenue. Mrs. Karnofsky said she would anticipate children learning safe walking habits from their parents.

During an interview at the intersection with Westfield Patch Friday morning, Mrs. Karnofsky said there are several other issues that concern the couple about the proposed crosswalk. She noted that rush hour traffic in the morning brings many cars down Sinclair to make a left on to Highland across the proposed crosswalk and then down Colonial to Mountain Avenue. In addition cars come down Highland to make a left on to Sinclair. Cars could be observed going in both directions on Friday morning.

In addition to the traffic situation, Mrs. Karnofsky expressed concerns with a sewer drain across from house at the corner where the crosswalk would be. She asked if students would need to step over the sewer or if the town would have to relocate the grate. It is estimated the utility pole movement would cost $4,000.

Mrs. Karnofsky said the main aspect of the petition is calling for an independent traffic study to be conducted at the intersection to determine if it is the best place to locate the crosswalk. The current studies have been conducted by the town. During a public conversation with the Karnofskys on Tuesday, Councilman Sal Caruana said the town could face legal liability if the Council were to overrule the professional opinion. She hopes that an independent study would be able to provide an opinion for moving the crosswalk.

"Where are the studies," Mrs. Karnofsky said. "If the studies were all in-house and they want the crosswalk there, I am not sure it's an objective study."