After a demonstration project introducing Emporians to a new crosswalk concept earlier this year, will the city’s use of pedestrian islands expand?
Healthier Lyon County spearheaded the project this past spring, with two pedestrian islands set up outside Emporia Middle School, one between Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia High and another on West 12th just north of Walnut Elementary. On KVOE’s Talk of Emporia this week, grant manager Daphne Mertens said she would like to see more pedestrian islands across town — if the data supports that move.
Results may not come back until late September after the data is reviewed by a Kansas State professor. If the data indicates expansion is a good idea, another demonstration island could go on the north side of Newman Regional Health.
Pedestrian islands are becoming a national trend. People walk to an area protected by yellow channelizers in the middle of the street so they don’t have to go across both lanes of traffic, especially in busy times before and after school.
