Town Considers Crosswalk at Highland and Sinclair

The town is looking to install a crosswalk at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Sinclair Place on the northside of town.

The issue of a crosswalk on Highland at the intersection with Sinclair, was brought up at Tuesday evening's Town Council meeting by Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Brennan, who said he has heard concerns about the intersection while campaigning. Brennan, who lives in the neighborhood, said he witnesses pedestrian safety concerns when driving in the area of the intersection. Brennan also indicated that he knows of residents in the area who have communicated their concerns with Councilman Mark Ciarrocca, the chairman of the Council's public safety, transportation and parking committee.

The concerns center mainly on cars making turns from Sinclair to Highland during the main commuting hours for school children. There is a crosswalk on Sinclair but none on Highland. Sinclair is a main walking route for children in The Gardens neighborhood to get to Franklin Elementary School.

"I go to work everyday at that corner and I see drivers making that left turn all the time," Brennan said. "As a former judge, I just throw my hands up."

Town Administrator Jim Gildea told the Council and Brennan that he had a chance to observe the intersection earlier this week and a crosswalk is likely to be installed when the town upgrades crosswalks townwide this year. He said there are several issues which need to be addressed before a crosswalk is installed. These include the placement of a driveway on Highland Avenue at the intersection and the need for a utility support pole on Highland Avenue to be moved to allow for a crosswalk to be installed.

"I'd like to see something done on a temporary situation," Brennan said of the intersection, asking for either a crossing guard or a police officer be assigned to the intersection.

Gildea said he would discuss the intersection with Police Chief John Parizeau and see if it is possible to install a crossing guard or police officer at the intersection when children are walking to and from school until a crosswalk is put in place.