The City of Morgan Hill is in the midst of replacing the old
yellow
‘caution’ signs with more visible traffic signs at crosswalks
near schools and in two places downtown.
The City of Morgan Hill is in the midst of replacing the old yellow ‘caution’ signs with more visible traffic signs at crosswalks near schools and in two places downtown.
“We hope these more vibrant, fluorescent green signs will get the attention of drivers,” said Jim Ashcraft, public works director.
Ashcraft said that by the beginning of school on Aug. 26, every crosswalk near a school – public or private – will have the new signs. A contractor is installing the 40 signs for $15,000. The signs are horizontal and proclaim “school.”
A different set of signs – also vibrant fluorescent green – has been installed at First and Third streets downtown on Monterey Road.
“The Downtown Plan says that it wants downtown to be pedestrian friendly,” Ashcraft said. People must stop at Second Street, which has a signal light, he said, but they must also stop at other crosswalks when occupied by pedestrians, according to state law.
The signs, he said, should make it clear that these are, indeed, crosswalks and drivers should pay attention. There is a total of eight signs downtown at the two streets. Ashcraft said his department would re-evaluate the success of the signs in a month and decide then if similar signs should be installed at Fourth and Fifth streets, which also have crosswalks but generally less traffic.
The downtown signs were installed by city workers and cost $6,000. Ashcraft said the downtown signs are new to the marketplace but have been used successfully on the Peninsula. In the meantime, Public Works is collecting comments from residents.
Send your comments on the new signs to Public Works Department, 776-7337.
