By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – After much discussion, selectmen voted to support a second flashing light at a pedestrian walkway across Main Street near the University of Maine at Farmington Tuesday.

In a letter dated April 18 to Robert Lawrence, director of facilities at the university, a consulting engineer recommended more motorist warning devices and additional lighting at a crosswalk at Main and South streets, where there have been two pedestrian accidents this year. The crosswalk lines are not visible to northbound motorists cresting a hill on Main Street, according to the letter.

The university hired Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc. to evaluate the feasibility of putting a crosswalk near Cumberland Farms and to study safety concerns at the South Street intersection.

This is the first academic year there has been a legal crosswalk at the South Street intersection of Main Street. The university installed neon-yellow signs along Main Street and pedestrian-activated yellow flashing lights on both sides of a second crosswalk a few feet up the road from the southern crossing.

Selectmen discussed other options for the South Street intersection, including eliminating the Main Street crossing there and blocking the corner with shrubs or fencing, in an effort to force pedestrians to walk up the block to the next crossing.

“They’re young people. It won’t hurt them to take a few extra steps,” Chairwoman Mary Wright said. “It’s an accident waiting to happen. It’s not fair to residents and tourists,” who must often stop for pedestrians several times within a two-block stretch of road, she added.

Several town officials felt eliminating the crosswalk wouldn’t help because pedestrians would cross there anyway.

“Removal of this crosswalk could cause some students to use the crosswalk with the flashers, but we would expect many students to continue crossing at this location,” agreed the engineer in the letter.

Selectman Mark Cayer argued that having the crosswalk “legitimizes” pedestrians crossing at a dangerous intersection. He thought accidents that occurred there happened exactly because the crosswalk was installed at that location.

“I put that crosswalk in against my better judgment,” Director of Public Works Mitch Boulette agreed.

Selectman Dennis Pike, who is also the Franklin County sheriff, said “we’ve been less than aggressive” about pedestrian education. But he felt walkers need to be responsible for their own safety.

“They think the magic zone of a crosswalk will protect them,” he said.

Agreeing that walkers will continue to cross at the intersection with or without a crosswalk, Selectman Stephan Bunker suggested “Stop, Wave, Walk” signs be painted on the pavement or on signs nearby.

“It’s human nature that they will take the shortest path,” he said.

Selectmen voted, with Wright opposing, to approve the installation of a second set of flashing lights at the intersection activated concurrently with the others whenever a pedestrian presses the button at either crosswalk. They also approved installation of additional lighting. Both would be at the university’s expense.

The engineers did not recommend a Main Street crossing south of Prescott Street near Cumberland Farms. Main Street widens and southbound traffic travels around a sharp curve just before the proposed walkway. However, the consultant recommended extending the sidewalk along Main Street to Prescott Street.