Walnut Street could see more pedestrian safety improvements

After three students were hit in a pedestrian crosswalk within the same year, Stephens College officials decided to ramp up safety on Walnut Street.

“I believe that people are trying to race and make it through that intersection at College [Ave],” Director of Safety and Security Ken Hammond said.

In the past few months, Hammond has worked with Public Works engineers to put flashing lights on the existing pedestrian crosswalk on Walnut. He said that’s already made a huge difference in getting drivers to be aware that there is a crosswalk there.

“It became very obvious very quickly once the flashing crosswalk went into work, the students have already noticed it and are using it,” he said. “I also noticed that the traffic has slowed down, where in the past they whiz right through that block without hesitation.”

On Wednesday night, public works engineers held an interested parties meeting for the last part of the plan: a traffic calming device for that block of Walnut leading up to the College Avenue intersection.

“We would anticipate people would slow down in that area because of the actual changing to the pavement and force people to slow down,” said traffic engineer supervisor Jacob Ray.

Hammond said if the speed hump is approved, it would be the “icing on the cake” for the pedestrian safety plan in the area and keep reminding drivers that the pedestrian crosswalk exists.

“With flashing lights and the speed calming device, it’s going to slow them down and make them aware there are pedestrians in that block,” said Hammond.

If it’s approved, it will likely be installed before the end of the year.

Anyone who missed the meeting but wants to provide input can call public works.