Gonzaga To Unveil New Pedestrian Safety Feature – Join Us!
Gonzaga University President Thayne McCulloh, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and Gonzaga Student Body Association President Tyler Hobbs will unveil the latest improvement to pedestrian safety for the Gonzaga community, the Logan neighborhood and the public at 12:15 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8.
At that time, the leaders will unveil new flashing-light signs designed to improve pedestrian safety at the corner of Hamilton Street and Desmet Avenue, a potentially dangerous intersection adjacent to the Gonzaga campus.
President McCulloh and Mayor Verner welcome the entire Gonzaga community and the public to attend the event. Guests may park in a reserved University lot at Boone Avenue on the west side of Hamilton Street, near Gonzaga’s reader board.
This collaborative project, funded by Gonzaga and the City, is designed to increase driver awareness and improve the safety of all pedestrians at the intersection. It is among several enhancements planned to improve pedestrian safety for the Gonzaga community and the public.
A pedestrian enhancement island was recently installed in the crosswalk at Hamilton and Desmet. The flashing lights will be installed Wednesday, Sept. 7. The installation will allow pedestrians to push a button that will activate flashing rectangular lights. The flashing lights, in turn, will notify motorists traveling both north and south on Hamilton Street that pedestrians intend to cross.
The improvement is the product of collaboration between the City, Gonzaga and members of the Logan neighborhood. President McCulloh said advocacy efforts by Gonzaga students were important to the effort.
“I would like to express my personal thanks to Mayor Verner, the City and our Logan neighbors who worked diligently and quickly this summer to make this traffic-safety improvement project happen,” President McCulloh said. “In addition, I want to thank the active participation of Gonzaga students –particularly last spring and into this summer – in promoting pedestrian safety and continuing to emphasize this priority project.”
The safety of all Gonzaga community members, Logan neighbors and the public is of utmost importance to Gonzaga, President McCulloh said, reiterating that due caution remains the most effective way to avoid accidents.
“It is incumbent on everyone – drivers, pedestrians and cyclists – to remain extra diligent to assure the safety of all. Gonzaga will continue to work with the Logan Neighborhood Council and the City to improve safety around campus – including work on proposed revisions to Sharp Avenue,” Dr. McCulloh said. “Thank you for your efforts at keeping each member of our community safe.”
For more information, please contact Mary Joan Hahn, Gonzaga’s director of public and community relations, at (509) 313-6095 or via e-mail [at hahn@gonzaga.edu] or Ann Deasy, public information coordinator for the City of Spokane, at (509) 625-6318 or via e-mail at [adeasy@spokanecity.org].