 "Photo: Melanie Hardy")
The city of Newark completed a project to enhance pedestrian Main Street this summer.
Mayor Vance A. Funk III said the project was needed to increase the city's image and safety.
Funk said one of the main issues for the project was the crosswalks, especially the crosswalk by Klondike Kate's because of the heightened number of people in that area.
"During the construction, all of the crosswalks were redone to look exactly the same," he said. "This was not done just for visual enjoyment reasons, but for safety, too."
Funk said designers decided to make the crosswalks out of brick to make them distinguishable to drivers.
"This was done so drivers can see the crosswalks and know to stop for pedestrians, decreasing the amount of confusion that took place prior to the construction," he said.
Maureen Feeney Roser, interim city planning director, said there were new additions other than the crosswalks.
"Bump-outs, or raised crosswalks, were put into place as well so that drivers can see the pedestrians and pedestrians can see the drivers," she said. "Tree grates were put into place along the sidewalks as well."
Roser said the long-term project started with hopes of improvement in 2002.
"There was anticipation of repaving the streets, replacing the crosswalk lights, building stone crosswalks and creating tree grates," she said.
Roser said the proposal was brought to the Downtown Newark Partnership and it, in turn, asked the Delaware Department of Transportation to help finance the project.
The project cost a total of $1.2 million, she said. The city provided $200,000 and DelDOT provided the rest.
Roser said the construction first began in the summer of 2006 with repaving Main Street.
"This part of the project stretched from Library Avenue to the railroad," she said. "This part of the project disrupted traffic on the Main Street area, so the streets were a priority to be finished first."
Roser said part two of the construction took place this summer to improve pedestrian safety.
"This aspect of the project focused mainly on pedestrians while still taking into consideration vehicle traffic," she said.
Roser said this project is important because Newark has the largest number of pedestrians statewide, with traffic to add in the mix.
While the major construction has been finished, Roser said workers are still adjusting the tree grates.
"The main point of the construction is to provide a safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive transportation network," she said.
Funk said the project also controls pedestrian walking on Delaware Avenue by the Green on university grounds.
"The crosswalk light by The [Main Street] Galleria was altered so that people can cross when the light is green," he said.
Junior Kalie Lasiter said while she does feel safe walking along Main Street, some of the traffic lights still need to be adjusted.
"The crosswalk by [Trabant University Center] is always very congested because the light is so long," she said. "I think more improvements need to be made at that part of Main Street."
Sophomore Jesse Benigno said the city should go further in its efforts to improve the safety of Main Street.
"Perhaps the university blue lights should be placed around Main Street to protect students even more than just the crosswalk changes," Benigno said.
Newark resident and mother of three Lisa Marchesiello said she feels safe walking along Main Street.
"I feel the new changes will make Main Street more accessible to pedestrians," she said.
Roser said in addition to its appearance, the safety appeal has been greatly improved.
"After all, safety is the most important thing," she said.
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