Crossing the Line

On most days, Bridgeville’s business district is bustling with activity around the many stores and restaurants that adorn the main drag through town.

The amount of traffic and pedestrians can cause problems, however, when people try to cross Route 50. There are several crosswalks stretching to the sidewalks, but confusion over who has the right-of-way is leading to problems.

Liz Calabro told that she is nearly “getting run over every time I cross the street.” She thinks the borough should set up a task force with the police department to monitor if drivers are stopping for pedestrians.

“We’ve had these problems for a long time,” Councilman Michael Chiodo said. “Unless we could put some sort of sting together, because they ignore those signs.”

Crossing signs are placed near Burgh’s and La Bella Bean warning that pedestrians have the right-of-way in the cross walk.

But Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said the answer isn’t that simple. He has heard many complaints on the issue and said the amount of traffic on Route 50 usually puts the onus more on pedestrians than drivers

“People don’t realize how much responsibility the pedestrian has,” King said. “If there is continuous traffic, it is their duty to walk to the nearest intersection (with a light) and push the button.”

According to state law: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”

The law continues that “No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute a hazard.”

King said the wording of the law makes it very difficult for officers to determine who is at fault in many situations.

Also during the meeting…

-Bridgeville Mayor Donald Dolde swore in the borough’s newest part-time police officer, Alex Lee III, at the end of the council meeting. Lee, 44, of South Fayette, has worked as a police officer in Whitaker Borough and as a sheriff’s deputy in Washington and Westmoreland counties. He will be paid $15 per hour with no benefits. Lee replaces Officer James Eckels, who recently accepted a full-time position with Canonsburg’s department.

-Barbara Miller told council that some disabled residents on her street are having trouble with the unusual street-sweeping schedule. She said some of the people who live on Eisner Avenue have nowhere else to park when the sweeper comes through their area. Council discussed possibly tweaking the schedule so only one side of the road is being cleaned, giving residents a chance to park on the other side.

-Ten people helped with Bridgeville’s clean-up day on April 30. Councilman Joe Colosimo said they made quite a lot of progress, but was surprised by the amount of cigarette butts strewn across the ground.

-Councilwoman Mary Weise reported that the borough is 13 percent over its snow removal budget because of overtime during the winter.