Lehighton borough officials believe the best way to make an existing crosswalk at a busy intersection safer for pedestrians is to remove it completely.

Resident Karla Gadecki presented a petition with 324 signatures to borough council on Monday asking the borough to install a pedestrian crosswalk system at Bridge and Bankway/East Bridge Street near RJ Walker Plumbing.

Gadecki told council her goal is to make the existing crosswalk safer.

“There has to be a better way to cross the street safely,” Gadecki said.

Gadecki previously said that at the crossing by Dunkin’ Donuts, there is bolder paint on the road which is more visible to vehicles, and many signs to indicate to drivers this is an area where pedestrians cross.

However, she noted there are no signs by the RJ Walker crossing, and only two white lines in the road.

Gadecki previously said she uses the crosswalk practically daily to cross to the playground in Weissport with her 3-year-old, and believes a pedestrian crosswalk system will help make crossing the busy road safer.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky asked whether the borough has looked into how much a study would cost.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett presented council with three options after discussion with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Traffic Unit on options for improvements:

• The first option is to improve the crosswalk with fresh paint to see if that helps.

• Another option is to notify PennDOT the borough wants to add signs for the crosswalk and go through their application process, which would involve administrative time, public works time, purchase of signs and possible consultation with an engineer

• The other option is to notify PennDOT the borough is interested in installing overhead Rapid Flashing Beacons, and request PennDOT complete the study and work with them on their application checklist, which would involve administrative time, and a funding commitment letter from council to pay for all improvements before PennDOT conducting study. There would be the costs of constructing the RFBs, engineering, maintenance and electricity.

Beckett said the borough has received $230,000 from the Local Share Account - Monroe County grant, and submitted an application to the DCED Multimodal Transportation Fund in the amount of $818,921 in 2020 and await notification on the awards.

She said the LSA Grant and MTF Grant are both submitted for the improvements on Sergeant Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, based on a traffic improvement study from 2018.

Councilman Joe Flickinger gave his recommendation as the borough’s emergency management coordinator.

“I agreed it is unsafe,” Flickinger said. “Due to (unsafe) conditions, I think the crosswalk should be removed.”

Councilman Donnie Rehrig, who did not attend the meeting, had sent his recommendation ahead of the meeting and said he also believes the crosswalk should be removed.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said he would encourage the public to use the crosswalk on Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard, rather than the crosswalk by RJ Walker.

“It’s a very, very dangerous point to cross, and I don’t think it should be there,” Saunders said.

Saunders then asked whether the borough could ask PennDOT about removing the crosswalk.

Beckett said she will be contacting PennDOT to discuss the option of removal.

Jennifer Solt-Cerato, owner of Jenny’s Sweets & More, said she believes Gadecki is onto something.

“I completely agree to remove it. It makes sense,” Solt-Cerato said.

However, Solt-Cerato said her concern is the crosswalk at Alfie’s Pizza on First Street.

Solt-Cerato said there have been many times where she’s held her breath because people ignore the crosswalks.

“Is there any way we can remove that one? “They just hit the gas and fly down First Street.”