Feb 4, 2015 4 min read

Why do Washington High School students cross the road at the Subway restaurant? If you guessed, “Because they can’t be bothered to walk a few feet to the streetcorner,” you might be on to something.

Whatever the case, the folks at Washington School District have mounted a bid to have a crosswalk installed in the middle of a block, from the sidewalk in front of Subway to the sidewalk in front of the school parking lot, because of concerns for students crossing Jefferson Avenue there.

These are not small children we’re talking about. These are students at a junior-senior high school.

Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo says school officials have been noticing the jaywalking “for a couple of years.” Apparently they were looking the other direction before that, because kids have been crossing at that same spot since the Winky’s burger joint was there, and no doubt for many years before that.

But DiLorenzo and members of the school board are now seeking to have a crosswalk painted there to help protect students who are walking to or from the school. They note that the closest crosswalk is at Jefferson and Hall avenues, which they say is 210 feet from the south entrance to the school. That’s a bit disingenuous, because they’re ignoring the fact that it’s a very short walk from the Subway parking lot to that very same crosswalk, which would afford the students a safer walk across the street, complete with traffic signals and buttons to push for a “walk” light.

DiLorenzo said the school board asked the state Department of Transportation to permit a midblock crosswalk. To its credit, PennDOT declined the request, noting that such a move would be unsafe because of the volume of traffic on Jefferson.

“The kids are jaywalking,” said Jay Ofsanik, safety press officer for PennDOT. “We wouldn’t add a midblock crosswalk (just) because it is more convenient. It won’t be safe for the kids. There’s heavy traffic in the area, and it would cause situations where students are walking between stopped vehicles.”

The superintendent points to several midblock crosswalks that were painted on streets amid the campus of Washington & Jefferson College, but those were not approved by PennDOT, according to Ofsanik, and no one seems to know who, if anyone, gave the OK for them. What we do know is that, despite W&J’s intentions, it has created less safety, not more, for the college students, who seem to think that they can bolt out into the crosswalks, which will magically cause approaching vehicles to stop immediately. It’s even worse after dark. And, as with the Wash High situation, there are safer crosswalks at intersections equipped with traffic signals just a short walk away.

But that situation might be resolved soon. Said Ofsanik, “We are sending a letter to the city notifying them that the crosswalks (at W&J) weren’t approved. Midblock crosswalks can’t be on state roads without approval. We are not sure who put them there.”

As for the Wash High situation, DiLorenzo said school officials have been “educating” students about street-crossing safety and might hire a crossing guard, though it has appealed PennDOT’s decision and still hopes for a reversal.

We’re not sure why the school district would spend more taxpayer money on a crossing guard when there’s a much easier solution. Schedule a school assembly and deliver a very simple message to all of the students: “There’s a crosswalk at the intersection of Hall and Jefferson. Use it!” Then, direct the school’s existing police officer – or “resource officer,” as they are sometimes called these days – to monitor the situation and enforce the edict, punishing students who choose to disregard it.

That’s simple, and safer.