(Nov. 10, 2016) Royal Farms is opening in Berlin in a month and school and community officials are anxious that its proximity to Stephen Decatur High School will encourage students to cross the Route 50 highway.
“I see it as an invitation, and the school can’t control that,” said pedestrian safety advocate Patricia Dufendach, who also sits on the Berlin Parks Commission. “The highway scares me. I don’t know how to protect pedestrians, because drivers there are so inattentive. It is a concern. How are we going to keep kids safe?”
The Berlin Planning Commission approved plans to move the Arby’s from its spot at Friendship Road and Route 50 to an adjacent parcel in 2015. The town council agreed to annex the new Arby’s location into Berlin limits shortly afterward, and construction began at the end of the year.
There is no crosswalk at the intersection in front of the high school, and at the moment the State Highway Administration is weighing the consequences of putting one there after the two stores open.
“We’re currently working with Stephen Decatur High School in terms of whether a crosswalk is going to go in there or not,” SHA Media Relations Manager David Buck said. “Since their school is the only pedestrian generator that would have people cross to the Arby’s and the Royal Farms, we want to make sure – and the school does too – that we’re not encouraging people to walk across by putting that in.”
From an educator’s standpoint, Decatur Principal Tom Zimmer said students would be less likely to cut class for fast food, but that it would be a different story after class.
“I do think that [if] we have afterschool events scheduled, like basketball games [and] drama productions – and there is not a large amount of time between end of school and start of game – that kids will want to get something to eat,” he said. “If they don’t drive, many probably would take the risk of crossing on foot.”
Stephen Decatur High School did have issues with students walking across the Harley Davidson property to reach the McDonalds on the opposite side of Seahawk Road.
“It’s not like it was with McDonalds on the side road. I do feel students for the most part have a healthy fear of crossing Route 50 on foot … [but] ultimately I don’t want to see anyone be hit by a car on a highway that sees millions of cars travel on it.”
As the Royal Farms opening nears, the high school administration will make school announcements on the dangers of crossing Route 50. School personnel will be outside after dismissal to stop students from crossing on foot.
If a crosswalk is created, Zimmer said school staff would be out there ensuring that students use it properly. But, even with these safety measures, there is no guarantee that pedestrians will be safe from harm.
Ocean City has dozens of crosswalks, yet 17 pedestrians were struck by vehicles from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Notably, two men were crossing with the right of way when they were hit.
While not installing a crosswalk could dissuade students from crossing, it could also create problems as development in that area continues. Recently, town officials and developers have been working on a townhouse complex across the street from the middle and high school.
“As we look down the road, there’s going to be more foot traffic in the area and we’re going to need more controlled crosswalks,” Dufendach said. “Pedestrians are going to need access to the WalMart and other stores. It’s a troublesome issue and everyone has a competing idea of how to make it safe.”
The Royal Farms will have its soft opening this month and its grand opening on Dec. 19. The Arby’s will likely reopen by the end of 2016.
“I see it as an invitation, and the school can’t control that,” said pedestrian safety advocate Patricia Dufendach, who also sits on the Berlin Parks Commission. “The highway scares me. I don’t know how to protect pedestrians, because drivers there are so inattentive. It is a concern. How are we going to keep kids safe?”
The Berlin Planning Commission approved plans to move the Arby’s from its spot at Friendship Road and Route 50 to an adjacent parcel in 2015. The town council agreed to annex the new Arby’s location into Berlin limits shortly afterward, and construction began at the end of the year.
There is no crosswalk at the intersection in front of the high school, and at the moment the State Highway Administration is weighing the consequences of putting one there after the two stores open.
“We’re currently working with Stephen Decatur High School in terms of whether a crosswalk is going to go in there or not,” SHA Media Relations Manager David Buck said. “Since their school is the only pedestrian generator that would have people cross to the Arby’s and the Royal Farms, we want to make sure – and the school does too – that we’re not encouraging people to walk across by putting that in.”
From an educator’s standpoint, Decatur Principal Tom Zimmer said students would be less likely to cut class for fast food, but that it would be a different story after class.
“I do think that [if] we have afterschool events scheduled, like basketball games [and] drama productions – and there is not a large amount of time between end of school and start of game – that kids will want to get something to eat,” he said. “If they don’t drive, many probably would take the risk of crossing on foot.”
Stephen Decatur High School did have issues with students walking across the Harley Davidson property to reach the McDonalds on the opposite side of Seahawk Road.
“It’s not like it was with McDonalds on the side road. I do feel students for the most part have a healthy fear of crossing Route 50 on foot … [but] ultimately I don’t want to see anyone be hit by a car on a highway that sees millions of cars travel on it.”
As the Royal Farms opening nears, the high school administration will make school announcements on the dangers of crossing Route 50. School personnel will be outside after dismissal to stop students from crossing on foot.
If a crosswalk is created, Zimmer said school staff would be out there ensuring that students use it properly. But, even with these safety measures, there is no guarantee that pedestrians will be safe from harm.
Ocean City has dozens of crosswalks, yet 17 pedestrians were struck by vehicles from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Notably, two men were crossing with the right of way when they were hit.
While not installing a crosswalk could dissuade students from crossing, it could also create problems as development in that area continues. Recently, town officials and developers have been working on a townhouse complex across the street from the middle and high school.
“As we look down the road, there’s going to be more foot traffic in the area and we’re going to need more controlled crosswalks,” Dufendach said. “Pedestrians are going to need access to the WalMart and other stores. It’s a troublesome issue and everyone has a competing idea of how to make it safe.”
The Royal Farms will have its soft opening this month and its grand opening on Dec. 19. The Arby’s will likely reopen by the end of 2016.