DOT says 'no' to crosswalk on Route 7

KENT — The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has denied the town’s request for a crosswalk on North Main Street (Route 7) in the vicinity of the Kent Market and the House of Books.

Selectman Vincent LaFontan originated the idea of putting a crosswalk there in October 2008.

A letter to the Board of Selectmen was reviewed during the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5. In it, DOT Acting Executive Director David A. Sawicki said that a marked crosswalk probably would not attract pedestrians to cross North Main Street in the location suggested.

“It is likely that people will cross Route 7 where they park their car,� Sawicki wrote. “Marking a crosswalk would indicate to motorists that pedestrian activity would be taking place at the crosswalk and they may be less aware of random pedestrian entrances into the roadway.�

At the meeting, LaFontan said he was not satisfied with Sawicki’s letter.

“I talked to a representative from DOT [months ago] who sounded enthusiastic about this idea,� LaFontan said. “They told me it made sense because of the changes in the downtown area.�

Sawicki said in his letter that the DOT does not have any records of any pedestrian or parking accidents in the area from January 2005 to December 2007.

The board eventually decided to appeal the decision, with LaFontan strongly disagreeing with what Sawicki wrote.

“I just feel that this is a natural place for a crosswalk,� LaFontan said. “If it was there, I feel people would funnel through it.�

Resident Karen Garrity said the DOT is out of touch with small towns like Kent.

“Some people just don’t understand what Kent is,� Garrity said. “If you come though here on a Tuesday at 11 a.m. it is a totally different place than it is on a Saturday at 3 p.m.�

LaFontan said that after the idea was first presented, representatives from the DOT toured the site late on a Tuesday morning.

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