Staff will need to collect data at the proposed crossing guard locations. Data collection efforts will wait until the weather improves. Given the conditions, there may not be any pedestrian data to collect.

While we use See-Click Fix to track and respond to maintenance requests, we will begin looking into this question and hope to reply here shortly. Please call 802-863-9094 if you need to speak with someone sooner.

As part of our ongoing work to improve pedestrian safety in Burlington, DPW Staff have completed data collection efforts and evaluated the request for crossing guards to be placed at the intersections of King St with South Union St, South Winooski Ave, St. Paul St & Pine St. Based on the data collected and utilizing the warrant analysis for crossing guards, DPW Staff would not recommend the placement of crossing guards at the requested locations.

As contextual information it is known and understood that:
• Children are physiologically not as well equipped as a full grown adult to gauge spatially, speed, and distance of a moving car.
• Children lack the emotional maturity to wait under conditions of high delay.

DPW Staff used the methodology provided nationally by the AAA(American automobile association) and the ITE(Institute of transportation Engineers) entitled “A Program for School Crossing Protection”. This methodology determines if control is warranted to protect children taking risks. Positive control comes in the form of a crossing guard. In this situation, there was not a high enough volume of pedestrians to warrant the deployment of new crossing guards.

Ultimately, the DPW Commission makes the final decision on any changes to the City of Burlington’s Traffic Regulations. You can discuss this issue with the DPW Commission at their next meeting on Wednesday, December 18th, 2019 at 6:30 pm. This meeting should be in our Front Conference Room, our office is at 645 Pine Street; please be advised, we are finishing up renovations so this meeting may be somewhere else. Please let me know if you are coming and I will provide you with those details, as the meeting date approaches. Feel free to call me should you have any questions. The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.

Best,

Phillip Peterson, Associate Engineer
Burlington Department of Public Works
645 Pine Street
Burlington, VT 05402
802-865-5832 (phone)
ppeterson@burlingtonvt.gov