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July 29, 2024

In an effort to improve pedestrian safety in local nearby communities, the Clarkson Construction Engineering Management Consulting Group (C3G) installed a week-long temporary pop-up crosswalk during the 25th Annual Tri-Town Summer Festival.

The pop-up crosswalk was installed using cones, signs, and chalk-based spray paint, creating a temporary but legal crossing point. The crosswalk was positioned between two key buildings which were expected to experience high foot traffic when the neighboring communities of Brasher Falls and Winthrop host activities for the annual Summer Festival from July 26 to July 28.

C3G is an in-house Clarkson team with the capability to provide pre-professional consulting in planning, engineering, and construction. This enterprise is driven by and staffed with Clarkson undergraduate and graduate students, supervised by faculty from Clarkson's Construction Engineering Management program.

This initiative is part of a broader study to enhance the roadways in the towns of Brasher and Stockholm, NY, in line with local policies in these two communities, as well as New York's Complete Streets policy which was signed into law on August 15, 2011, requiring state, county and local agencies to consider the convenience and mobility of all users when developing transportation projects that receive state and federal funding. This policy requires transportation projects to consider the needs of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, ensuring safer and more accessible roadways for all users.

"With the unmarked crossing between the Tri-Town Arena and the Town Line Market being so dangerous, my hope is this temporary crosswalk will demonstrate the necessity for a permanent marked crosswalk to be installed," said Evan Baird, B.S. Civil Engineering '26, student intern at Clarkson University and Clarkson CEM Consulting Group who is serving as project manager and oversaw the installment.

During the week, a survey was conducted to gather feedback from voluntary participants. Survey questions focus on participants' involvement with the Stockholm/Brasher community, their prior knowledge of the pop-up project, and their experience and perceived effectiveness of the temporary crosswalk.

Following the temporary installation, the C3G team will analyze the data collected/survey results and generate a report to assess the feasibility and safety improvements of making the crosswalk permanent. This research aims to address a critical need for improved pedestrian safety in high-traffic intersections and other logical crossing points in communities like Brasher Falls and Winthrop, NY.

"Pedestrian safety is and should be a priority. The Towns of Brasher and Stockholm Complete Streets committees are working together to address opportunities for improving access to retail businesses from the sidewalk in our towns," said Julia Rose, Chair of the Brasher Planning Committee. "This project will give us important data and feedback to better serve the community. We appreciate the support of both Brian Liberty of Town Line Market and Ritchie LaFave of the Community Center. We hope lots of folks will complete the survey to better help us address these concerns."

This project is supported by the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative's Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant, funded by the New York State Department of Health. As noted by Ms.Rose, the project is also supported by the Towns of Brasher and Stockholm Complete Streets committees who have been instrumental in propelling this effort.

For more information about Clarkson University Construction Engineering Management Program, click here.