Grand Island seeks safety near school

Sept. 11 fatality followed by 2^nd accident

By Alice Gerard and Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Reporters

Grand Islanders are calling for safety measures at an intersection where a Sept. 11 accident claimed one life, and a second crash this past Sunday sent three others to area hospitals.

On Sunday afternoon, three people, including two children, were hurt in a crash involving a motorcycle and a car at the intersection of State Parkway and Broadway, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The motorcyclist was transported to ECMC to be treated, while two children in the other vehicle were transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital. The motorcyclist was cited for speeding, but no other charges have been filed.

This is the same intersection where eighth-grader Leah Mayer was struck and killed by a vehicle Sept. 11. The site is in the immediate vicinity of Kaegebein Elementary School.

Both accidents are under investigation.

The New York State Department of Transportation has said it will conduct a safety review of the area.

Grand Island Supervisor Peter Marston, the Town Board and the town’s highway superintendent have sent a letter to the state DOT urging “a more intense study of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in this area, as it is adjacent to one of our local elementary schools, playgrounds and sports fields, as well as areas of denser population.”

The letter, sent after the first accident, said, “This was truly a devastating blow to our tight-knit community and has raised many questions and concerns regarding pedestrian safety throughout the Island.”

Residents are calling for traffic safety measures to ensure that such tragedies will not happen again. A petition with that goal has been started on change.org. It can be found at https://www.change.org/p/install-a-traffic-light-and-crossing-signals-at-broadway-and-beaver-island-parkway.

Linda Zindle, the sister of Leah’s grandfather, said, “We really don’t need ‘a study.’ The electricity is already there … obviously, there was already ‘a study’ done years ago. But the population of Grand Island has grown since it was done. Isn’t two (at least) accidents in two weeks enough?”

Resident Stephanie Watts said, “I live on Broadway and, regularly, my husband and I sit outside and listen to the parkway used as a drag strip. We run almost daily on the bike path, but to get to it, we need to wait consistently to cross, as no cars stop. We often watch cars speed up from Love Road to get quickly past Broadway, often speeding up to beat any people trying to cross. This has been a problem for far too long, and we owe it to our community to make it safer.”

Watts described the change she wanted to see at Broadway and the State Parkway: “I think they need to adjust the current light to a full stop when a person is present and pushes a button to do so, with the addition to a ‘Walk’/‘Don't Walk’ indicator. People should already be stopping, per New York state law, and they are not. A red light should help make this crosswalk safer. People also pay far more attention to a red light, compared to a blinking yellow. I can count on one hand the number of cars that have actually stopped for me in the 10 years.”

Highway Superintendent Dick Crawford said the town is exploring measures now to quickly improve safety at the intersection while it awaits state action on a long-term solution.

He said of the state DOT, “They certainly are aware of the two tragic accidents that occurred. We have not heard an official response back from them yet. But I’ve had a conversation today (Tuesday) with the DOT about looking at some different things to make that a safer pedestrian crossing … and try to find another way to get people to slow down as they’re coming through there.”

Crawford outlined one of these measures: “I will be putting together a permit to get some speed, radar equipment in that area to alert motorists of their speed while they’re in the general area.”

He said it will be important to determine where best to put the radar equipment to provide the most safety features for the walker, the bicycle rider and the driver.

“It’s a little tricky just through the fact that you enter a school zone, and you slow down to 25 mph, and there are certain hours when you’re required to do so, and then (in the off-hours) it’s 45 mph there,” Crawford said.

He pointed out that the 20-mph jump in the speed limit on State Parkway occurs just as drivers exit the 25-mph zone and are approaching the intersection with Broadway. State and town efforts will combine to bring safety to that sector.

Crawford said the configuration has inherent hazards, with the parkway having two lanes both north and south, along with Broadway intersecting all four lanes.

He said the question is, “How can we generally make that area safer to all? That is the emphasis of the town’s request to the state to take a look at that whole area and see what we can come up with.”

Crawford said that, as one proceeds south toward Beaver Island State Park, crossings at Fix and Ferry roads, for example, also should be looked at for safety improvements.

He said it’s a collaborative approach between the town, the state traffic engineers and residents, who all want to see a positive outcome to make the whole area safe. “The bottom-line goal will be to move as fast as humanly possible to look at what can and can’t be done.”

A tree has been planted at Kaegebein Elementary School in memory of Leah Mayer, who lost her life when struck by a car Sept. 11 at the intersection of Broadway and State Parkway. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

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Mindy Joss initiated a petition drive on Change.org. She posted this summary of the petition drive after the first accident claimed Leah’s life:

“This issue is not an abstract one – it is born from personal heartbreak and community concern in Grand Island. … Last night, we lost a bright light in our community – a child whose life was struck short while crossing the intersection of Broadway and Beaver Island Parkway. This incident is not isolated. Numerous residents have expressed their fears and shared their close calls of being nearly hit by vehicles at this same spot.

“This situation is unacceptable and needs immediate attention. Not having traffic controls at such a busy intersection endangers the lives of every individual who passes through it. The installation of a traffic light and crossing signals would significantly improve safety by controlling vehicle flow and providing a clearly defined path for pedestrians.”

Watts, who has spoken with Marston, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello and State Sen. Sean Ryan about the situation, said the response to her efforts has been “generally positive.”

She added, “There have been a few instances where people say to use the bridge a quarter of a mile down, but it's still an issue as we also see people choosing to cross Love unsafely to get across faster. The petition that Mindi Joss started has gained close to 1,800 signatures. I have had two individuals from the government write back to my requests in full support to make the section of road safer. Most people within the community support making GI safer.”

At the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 1, School District Superintendent Dr. Brian Graham reported a tree has been planted at Kaegebein Elementary School in memory of Leah Mayer. Another tree was planted at Huth Road Elementary School in memory of Kylaina Rusch, a 10-year-old who passed away early in July.

Alyssa Pizur, a Grand Island High School senior who served as the high school ambassador, emphasized the students’ support of Leah Mayer and her family.

“Our community came together in support of a wonderful family,” she said. “Additionally, students who were close to Leah and who were struggling with the news were provided with services from counselors, from therapy dogs to one-on-one conversations, for anyone who needed guidance during this time. Please continue to pray for and honor Leah Mayer – a life that will not be forgotten.”

Graham said, “We continue to do everything we can to support, not only her family and her siblings, but her friends and the children that care deeply for her in our school community. I do want to thank our pupil personnel services, our schools and our teachers and our social workers for coming together so quickly to provide the necessary support, and that support continues every day.

“Over this weekend, a local softball team wanted to raise some funds, with parent permission, to purchase a bench. That team is working with Dr. (Robert) Merkle (assistant superintendent of school business and finance), and Phil Marino III (school district director of facilities) will probably put a cement pad next to Leah’s tree and mount that bench there so people will be able to come and reflect. If we’re able to do the same with Kylaina, we will figure that out at a district level.

“Leah not only was a wonderful person, but she was also a voice for those around her. I mean that literally. She was so close to one of her best friends, and she was literally her voice in supporting her and her growth and development. So, a very special young lady. We’re obviously very saddened by this.”