Royal Purple

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Mike Rybicki Senior Andy Domina walks across Main Street by the Alumni?Center and Hyer Hall. Lights will soon be placed to draw attention to pedestrians.

The Whitewater Common Council voted 6-1 Nov. 6 in favor of putting lights at the crosswalks on Main Street intersections including Cottage and Whiton streets and near Mulberry Glen Retirement Home.

The three sets of lights will cost the city $26,778. The sets consist of yellow LED lights over the standard yellow pedestrian crossing sign. The lights are activated by a button and are solar powered.

Drivers are legally required to yield and slow down when the lights are activated by the pedestrian, Whitewater Police Chief James Coan said.

District 3 Alderman Roy Nosek voted against the motion and suggested the city try a set before purchasing them.

"For the record, it's not the safety issue," Nosek said. "I love the students. I just think we are making a mistake in not trying it out first."

Public Works director Dean Fischer said the city would be able to try out one set of lights for 30 - 60 days. Nosek suggested putting the trial set at Mulberry Glen.

Alderman Kim Hixon said the lights are "long overdue" and should be installed now.

"In 10 years from now, it'll be a very low cost to make sure people are safe," Hixon said. "How are you going to put a price tag on somebody's life?"

Before the council voted on the issue, Nosek motioned for an amendment to postpone purchasing the lights. Nosek and Member-at-large Jim Stewart voted in favor of the amendment, but the council voted 4-2 against it.

UW-Whitewater student Tiffini Heim said the intersection at Whiton and Main is dangerous and an inconvenience to students. Heim was at the council meeting as part of a journalism class project.

"Me and my roommate used to call it playing Frogger, because you'd have to hop between cars," Heim said. "You have to leave a half hour before class, because you never know how long you'll have to wait."

Council President Marilyn Kienbaum said the intersection has been a concern.

"I've been so afraid that something would happen," Kienbaum said. "I sure don't want to lose any of you."

Coan said the proposed system would be much better than what is currently there, but "it would behoove the pedestrians to be careful."

Fischer said the same light system is being used in Stoughton, Wis.

"I watched the operation, and it's amazing," Fischer said. "It works."

District 2 Rep. Max Taylor said the intersection at Tratt and Starin Street is dangerous as well. The council decided not to discuss the intersection Tuesday.

The cost for the lights will be taken from this year's contingency fund, which is currently about $35,000.

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