Pedestrian crosswalk markings stretching across M-24 between Starbucks Coffee and the Oxford 7 Theater were removed last week.
Signs informing pedestrians to ‘Use Burdick Crosswalk? (shown above) were erected near the corners of Dennison and Stanton streets, which intersect M-24 from the west and east. Twice the village council voted to have MDOT remove the crosswalk markings.
A Sept. 14 incident involving four teenage girls who were struck by a vehicle while jaywalking between the theater and Starbucks, about 15 feet north of the crosswalk, prompted council’s decision to make it clear that pedestrians are not to cross there.
Officials believe it’s too dangerous to cross at the Dennison/M-24/Stanton intersection without a traffic signal to stop vehicles and allow pedestrians safe passage across the busy state highway.
According to Oxford Village Police Sgt. Mike Solwold, those caught crossing between the coffee house and theater can be ticketed for either ‘pedestrian in roadway? or ‘impeding traffic,? both of which are civil infractions that carry $95 and $90 fines, respectively.
‘Those are the two choices we have,? Solwold said.
Solwold said reserve officers were posted at the intersection Friday night (Dec. 7) ‘to educate everybody? about using the Burdick crosswalk and ‘what’s going to happen if they don’t. Hopefully, the word will get out.?