Pittsboro, NC – I am writing to defend the town on this one. 15-501 is not a Town of Pittsboro road and the town has little control. Particularly with crosswalks. I know. Several months back there was another death on 15-501. This one was near the ABC store on Sanford road. As a response, the town planted holly bushes, built barricades and painted the sidewalk with directions to the nearest sidewalk. But what of the crosswalk? This is controlled by the state. Citizens donated over seven grand to pay for lighting and in street marking for this area in order to make it safe. The State denied the application and so the money was returned to the donors. Pittsboro cannot simply put in or improve crosswalks without State approval.
We also had multiple “incidents” at the corner where Vino is located. Years later the entire streetscape is being remodeled as a result. Sidewalks changed. On street parking is being modified and sidewalks are as well. Why years later? Well, you see, the town of Pittsboro must get permission, obtain funds, bid the project and then implement after coordinating with businesses etc.
The newest “incident” is a tragedy for the driver as well as the family of the poor soul who passed. Would the town place barricades and crosswalks there too? Not in my opinion. I drive that area every single day and pedestrian traffic is so sparse I am not sure I have ever seen a pedestrian there.
Pedestrians crossing in dangerous areas are at risk. Using the word “incident” is a choice. In your view it was a callous choice but the actions by the Town to protect pedestrians put the lie to that characterization. Your choice to use it as a metaphor for an uncaring town is absurd. The current folks on the town of Pittsboro staff have been incredibly sensitive to traffic safety. I have argued that they are too sensitive to pedestrian safety and the focus should be on writing tickets for jaywalking in these areas, not building physical barricades. Ultimately safety for a pedestrian is a responsibility of the pedestrian who must follow the law. If they are hit in a crosswalk the fault is the driver’s. If the pedestrian is jaywalking in a high traffic area which has minimal pedestrian traffic it is simply dangerous. If it is a high traffic area with a poorly lit crosswalk which the town has tried to rectify but the State has refused? Who is being callous?
If you choose to blame the town of Pittsboro as if they are indifferent to the death of a pedestrian then I would argue the callous one is you. The history of these folks make it clear they are concerned, perhaps overly concerned, with pedestrian safety.