Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton The upgrades made at four pedestrian crosswalks on Market St. are generating some confusion. Now, when someone pushes the button, a dedicated pedestrian crossing window will take place where traffic will be stopped in all four directions.

Changes to the sequencing of pedestrian crosswalks on Market St. are causing some near-misses and generated complaints.

The issue is with the pedestrian crosswalk apparatus that was recently installed on Market St. at the intersections with Second Ave., Third Ave., Fourth Ave. and Fifth Ave.

Prior to the upgrades, pedestrians could cross when the corresponding lights were green for traffic. For example, you could cross Third Ave. as a pedestrian while traffic was traveling north/south.

That is no longer the case.

Say hello to the “exclusive” pedestrian walk.

Now, when someone pushes the button at one of those intersections, a dedicated pedestrian crossing window will take place where traffic will be stopped in all four directions.

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz noted that drivers have been observing the opposite direction light changing from yellow to red and beginning to enter the intersection.

“Of course, that’s the newness of it all,” Holtz said. “It’s different.”

Instead of the light turning green as has long been the case, motorists are entering the intersection during those dedicated pedestrian crossing periods.

“They’re anticipating their light turning green,” Police Captain Joseph Sproveri noted.

“(We) think people don’t understand the scramble,” City Manager Nancy Freenock said.

The exclusive pedestrian period is only activated when someone presses the buttons at the intersection.

Ken Burnfield, project manager with Bruce and Merrilees, the firm that installed the pedestrian equipment, told city staff that “safety wise, it’s a good thing,”

He said the city will have to wait and see how the new sequencing impacts traffic on Market Street. Approaching PennDOT about a change to that sequence in the future is a possibility.