SALEM — A new pedestrian light on Bridge Street has a city councilor fuming and police concerned.
The light at Skerry Street — right by the Carlton School — has a yellow box called a "crosswalk warning device." Push it, and the traffic light flashes yellow and a recorded message repeats: "Cross street with caution. Vehicles may not stop."
Ward 2 Councilor Mike Sosnowski was so disturbed by the new pedestrian crossing, installed by the Massachusetts Highway Department as part of the Bridge Street improvements, that he marched into Monday night's School Committee meeting asking for help.
The recorded message, he claimed, will only confuse young children, leaving them unsure whether to cross the street.
"Our kids are at risk," the councilor said.
Although Mayor Kim Driscoll pointed out that there is a crossing guard there during school hours to ensure safety, board members agreed with Sosnowski and passed a resolution asking the state to remove the device, called an "enhanced pedestrian warning system," and install a standard light that stops traffic and allows pedestrians to cross.
Police Lt. Robert Preczewski, head of the traffic division, went to check out the light yesterday. He, too, had concerns.
"It just seems to be the wrong location," he said. "It just seems like the wrong type of light to have around a public school."
City Engineer David Knowlton said the city, after getting complaints from Sosnowski, asked the state Department of Transportation about replacing this pedestrian light, and two others planned for Bridge Street, but was turned down.
"We've asked the state to consider changing it and putting in a full stop control light, and they just don't have the money to do that," he said.
He said the light was installed on a state highway project and has "to follow all their standards." Bridge Street is state Route 1A.
He estimated the cost of the light at $20,000.
Contacted yesterday, the Mass DOT said the road project was "jointly designed" by the state and city. A spokesman for the agency said it planned to contact Salem officials and "would review the history of the decision" to install the enhanced pedestrian warning system at Skerry Street.
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