Residents urged the Buildings and Grounds Committee to improve walking access to Woodman's Plaza at the Manhattan and Niagara intersection; the committee approved pedestrian-crossing signage and added advance-warning signs, but did not paint a marked crosswalk.

Katie Forster, a resident who said she lives in the neighborhood, told the committee she and neighbors counted 36 pedestrians using Manhattan on a Monday and estimated roughly 250 people per week. “I feel that a crosswalk at the Niagara Manhattan intersection will improve walkability for the people of the neighborhood there as well as their safety,” she said.

City engineering staff explained their standard practice: “we don't propose to mark, uncontrolled intersections,” Alex said, and noted existing curb ramps at the intersection are not to current ADA standards. Staff had no objection to pedestrian signage and recommended against painting pavement markings at an uncontrolled intersection; the committee authorized signs plus two advance crosswalk-warning signs after a motion that included the advance signs.

Alder Rick Lemke said the signs would be more visible than markings given the skewed intersection geometry and supported the motion. The committee approved the staff design with the addition of advanced warning signage; the measure passed unanimously.

Outcome: the committee approved installation of pedestrian-crossing signs and two advance warning signs; no painted pavement crosswalk will be added at this time because the intersection is uncontrolled and ramps don't meet ADA standards.

What’s next: staff will order and install the signs; any future request for pavement markings would require ADA ramp upgrades or a controlled crossing.