Good Afternoon Friends and Neighbors:  Many of you will remember the accident last year where a young lady riding her bicycle in a crosswalk across Hwy 36 in Chester was struck by a car and severely injured.  Since the accident representatives from Caltrans and Plumas County have been working to improve safety along Hwy 36 as it passes through Chester and more particularly at the crosswalk on Hwy 36 at Aspen Street.

You may have noticed the new, brighter signage placed by Caltrans at various intersections along Hwy 36 through town.  These new signs are the first step in their highway improvement process.

Caltrans conducted traffic count studies last November in an effort to determine if the intersection (Martin/Aspen/Hwy36) met any traffic signal warrants.  Primarily due to the low volume of traffic on the side streets at the intersection they determined that no signal warrants were satisfied.  As a second option it was decided to upgrade the existing flashing beacon system to include a pedestrian activated crossing system at the Aspen/Hwy 36 crossing. 

Presently there are overhead flashing lights placed on Hwy 36 on either side of the intersection.  These lights are activated by Elementary School personnel for a period before and after school.  These flashing lights will be augmented by new crossing signals at the crosswalk itself.  Two new poles with flashing beacons will be installed at either end of the crosswalk as well as appropriate intersection lighting.  The new pedestrian activated flashers will work in conjunction with the existing advanced warning flashers.  During morning and afternoon travel periods when school is in session, the system will be activated by school personnel.  At other times the system will be activated at the crosswalk by a pedestrian push button.  The estimated cost of this upgrade is $178,000 and will be split 50/50 between Caltrans and Plumas County.  Both Caltrans and the County were able to program this cost in their 07/08 budget years with work scheduled to begin upon completion of environmental impact work by Caltrans.  The latest estimates I have received from Caltrans place this in the spring of 2008.

In addition to improvements mentioned above, Caltrans and the County have each agreed to provide a radar feed back sign. The two radar feedback signs will be placed along Hwy 36 as you enter Chester from either direction.  Cost to the County for their sign is estimated at $5,000.  Current plans have one unit mounted below the existing 30-mph speed limit sign coming into town from the East near the city limit sign.  The other unit will be mounted below the existing 30-mph speed limit sign near Irwin Way to notify traffic coming into town from the West.  Procurement of both signs will be completed in the next few days.  We are hoping to finish installation within the next 30 days and if all goes well they will be installed prior to the Memorial Day weekend. 

I am looking forward to seeing these improvements along Hwy 36 and I intend to work closely with Caltrans to see the pedestrian activated signals in place at the earliest possible date.  Meanwhile - keep your eyes open for the new radar feedback signs they should be in place very soon! -  Sherrie