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Crosswalk across Main Street between the library and Brattleboro Savings & Loan
It's true, the state of Vermont has decided that because this crosswalk is not wheelchair accessible, it's to be removed in the final stage of the Route 5 construction, despite the fact that there is an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant crosswalk about 50 feet further north. Below is a message to this effect from Jerry Carbone in this week's missive from Brooks Memorial Library:
"Town Manager Barbara Sondag informed me last week that the crosswalk at Main Street directly in front of the Library will be eliminated by the State of Vermont. This will occur when the Main Street work is complete. According to Vermont Agency of Transportation engineers Chris Barker and Jon Kaplan, all crosswalks must be accessible as per
ADA Title 2. This particular one is not since it begins/ends with a set of stairs. Patrons are advised to use the accessible cross walk at the intersection of Walnut St. and Main. "
I called Steve Barrett to inquire about the logic behind this matter, and had a very interesting discussion with him about the decision, which was out of his control. It seems that the whole thing hinges on the federal government's mandate to make every publicly funded facility accessible to all. This is a noble and important goal in my mind, and I am proud to live in a country that leads the world in accessibility issues. But why should walking people be penalized in a manner that creates absolutely no benefit to folks in wheelchairs? I have visions of people using that 'walk' to cross Main Street anyway, despite the absence of a crosswalk, children perhaps, trying to get to the library, and causing traffic and safety problems.
The following is from John Kaplan, Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager for VTrans:
"Crosswalks MUST be accessible and stairs are clearly not accessible. We (and any public body) have a duty under Title 2 of the ADA to ensure that all of our programs, services, etc. are accessible to all. The town should not be putting this crosswalk in either." I am hoping that Mr, Kaplan does not think that this is a new, proposed crosswalk, as his terminology suggests.
So I'd like to take Mr. Kaplan and the federal government's argument a little further. The two-story library beyond this crosswalk is publicly funded. It's also ADA compliant through the use of ramps, accessible bathrooms and an elevator. But there are stairs in the library that are not accessible. Should these stairs be removed because the library may not spend public funds cleaning or maintaining a structure that is not accessible to all? Who will then pay for the increased energy use of operating the elevator, wear and tear expenses, etc?
I would very much appreciate hearing from people familiar with accessibility issues why the removal of this crosswalk makes any sense at all. Does this removal benefit anyone? It is one of the nicest crosswalks in Brattleboro, passing through that flowered island. If I have prejudices here that I am unaware of, I hope to be enlightened. If, on the other hand, there is no argument from people who can speak for the wheelchair-using community, why could this crosswalk not be grandfathered in, and the crosswalk lines painted by the town instead of the state?
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NOTE: There are additional issues of crosswalk signage and the need for open space/visibility on either side of all crosswalks, etc. but these issues are irrelevant to the major point here.
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Ridiculous! I am not usually one to jump on the
condemning & blaming government regulations for
every sort of concocted social ill, but in this instance
it is truly stupid.
I had seen that the crosswalk is painted with the
words "tops soil" which made me wonder why they
would contemplate moving or eliminating this
crosswalk. I hoped there would be a good reason.
The sight lines at the corner in front Subway (Walnut
St.) are pretty bad as there are usually cars parked
there and a light pole that blocks drivers view until
they are quite close to you the crossing pedestrian.
You just have to try and semi confidently start
walking and HOPE that the driver will see you in time
and stop. I wouldn't want to use that crosswalk with
my young son if I saw any cars approaching.
I predict that some folks will continue to cross at that
spot even after the crosswalk has been removed. I
may do it myself.