GEORGETOWN, DE -- Georgetown leaders, along with officials from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), hosted a workshop aimed at improving pedestrian safety in the area Tuesday night.
DelDOT officials said the workshop looked to garner public feedback for potential upcoming projects in the town.
"DelDOT is partnering with Georgetown on this effort as there are several schools and recreation areas that would benefit from having safer facilities for biking and walking around town," DelDOT Community Relations Director C.R. McLeod said. "We’ll be presenting concepts that the project team has developed and asking for feedback from the community."
Lauren Vrooman told WBOC she walks along the Georgetown Circle with her dogs every day.
"We have to cross the circle twice on our loop, and a lot of the times there's cars flying through," Vrooman said. "We've almost gotten hit a few times."
Vrooman said she feels like pedestrians are often a second thought for many drivers around the traffic circle.
"Hopefully people become a little more aware that pedestrians are trying to use it too just keep an eye out," Vrooman said. "I think adding some more visual factors along the roads would make it a lot safer."
Gene Dvornick, Georgetown's town manager, said more visual signals are one addition town leaders are considering to improve pedestrian safety in the area.
"We're focusing on crosswalks that have the rectangular rapid flash beacons that you see in coastal areas," Dvornick said. "It's really about trying to identify key areas where those are needed."
The map above shows some of the key areas within the study, according to DelDOT officials. The blue-shaded areas represent roads that are heavily walked and biked.
"I think anything that improves the ability for people to walk without having to be interacting with traffic is a great improvement," Dvornick said.
Other example ideas the town manager provided included:
- More flashing signage and additional crosswalks.
- New speed bumps and speed tables.
- Additional dedicated bike lanes.
- Improved connectivity along sidewalks and roads.
No final decisions have been made about the project. Additional information about the study and potential improvements can be found on DelDOT's website.
DelDOT officials said the workshop marks the start of a secondary public comment period. While the workshop was held from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 29th, public comment will still be accepted on DelDOT's website.