A new crosswalk between Civic Space Park and the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA should decrease the number of jaywalkers across First Avenue, city officials said.
The crosswalk, which opened March 26, was necessary because of the number of ASU students seen jaywalking to and from classes, said Matthew Heil, public information officer for the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department.
Heil said more than 700 pedestrians crossed First Avenue daily without using the existing crosswalk just a few feet south.
“It’s understandable, given that it was a convenient way to reach the ASU Downtown campus, the YMCA, the Civic Space Park and parking in the area,” Heil said.
The crosswalk was a joint project with the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department, ASU and Metro Light Rail, he said.
“This should reduce the instances of jaywalking significantly,” Heil said. “We don’t have any plans to add more crosswalks in the area. Hopefully this addition will prove sufficient.”
Kyle Kisling, a 21-year-old Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA employee, said he has witnessed many people jaywalking on a daily basis throughout the three years he has worked there.
“I’m definitely guilty of being one of the many who were jaywalking, but with the new crosswalk, it’s a lot more convenient for everyone,” Kisling said. “I think if they were to build some sort of bridge like what they have at the Tempe campus, it would be something that would benefit us who are all downtown.”
Journalism sophomore Miranda Rivers lives near Fourth Avenue and Monroe Street and has found the crosswalk to be useful.
“We always had to run through the streets and irritate drivers,” Rivers said. “Especially when we are going to gym, school and back, it’s very useful for students and residents.”
Journalism student Alex Siordian has been parking in the Second Avenue lot during the spring semester and said in order to get to his classes on time, he had no other choice but to jaywalk along with the rest of his peers.
“It’s a very inconvenient place to park. With the added crosswalk, it makes it so much easier for students to get to classes and back,” Siordian said. “We’re glad that it’s there and it’s definitely going to benefit students, but they need to look at the city itself by adding more, because one isn’t going to be enough.”
Contact the reporter at amanda.maler@asu.edu
