Effort to slow down MLK continues - new crosswalk coming

If you stand on along Martin Luther King Jr. Way during rush hour, it can seem like it's the closest thing the Central District has to a freeway. Part of that is by design since it was straightened, widened, and scheduled to be turned into a freeway back in the 50's.

The latest effort to slow down MLK a bit and make it more safely passable for pedestrians will be coming later in 2010, with the addition of a new crosswalk at MLK & Marion. It's coming thanks to the determined efforts of Anne Landfield, who lives near there and worked with the city throughout 2009 to get the project approved.

That new crosswalk will be the only marked crossing in the four-block span between Cherry & Union, on a straight, downhill stretch that sees a lot of high speed traffic.

The city is now assigning a project manager that will help finalize the design and get it scheduled for construction, possibly as soon as Spring. Here's the project description Anne submitted for the project application:

This project would install a new marked crosswalk at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and E Marion Street.  Along with a new crosswalk, this project would construct a small pedestrian refuge island in the median of MLK, a curb bulb on the northwest side of the intersection (the northeast side as well if funding allows), new curb ramps, and appropriate signage improvements.  This new crossing would provide access to transit stops on the east and west side of MLK Way through an 1800 foot corridor that currently lacks a designated crossing.