The removal of a mid-block crosswalk in the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West in downtown Warren makes a lot of sense – though changing state standards ended up making the decision an easy one, in our opinion.

Police Chief Joe Sproveri told council members that the crosswalk no longer met current PennDOT standards because it is 260 feet from existing crosswalks at Liberty Street and the roundabout at Pennsylvania Avenue and Market Street. PennDOT recommends 300 feet between crosswalks for a mid-block crosswalk to be needed.

There are other reasons a mid-block crosswalk made little sense. Parking downtown created visibility issues for those using the mid-block crosswalk for both pedestrians and drivers. Mid-block crosswalks are also at times confusing for visitors who are expecting them at intersections but not necessarily in the middle of a block – especially when there are other crosswalks nearby. And a majority of business owners downtown preferred removing the crosswalk and adding parking spaces in the area instead.

City Council voted this week to approve an ordinance removing the mid-block crosswalk in the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West, a move city officials say will improve parking availability and address safety concerns downtown.

Council approved the ordinance by a 5-1 vote following a discussion that included comments from business owners on the 200 block and city staff.

The proposal will allow the city to create additional metered parking spaces where the crosswalk is currently located. Council also directed staff to explore the possibility of adding a public person with a disability parking space along the south curb of the block, though that issue will require a separate ordinance at a future meeting.

The discussion stems from concerns raised earlier this year by downtown business owners regarding parking shortages and illegal parking near the crosswalk. Officials said motorists frequently park in the striped no-parking areas near the crossing, creating visibility problems for both drivers and pedestrians.

There is going to be an adjustment period, of course. Despite other nearby crosswalks the mid-block crosswalk has still been used fairly frequently by pedestrians. We know that old habits die hard, so drivers shouldn’t be shocked if people still use the area even after the crosswalk is removed. It’s going to take time for new pedestrian habits to be formed.

We also wonder, given the general hesitance with the downtown roundabout, how much that particular crosswalk is used. We know there are people who avoid the roundabout while they’re driving. We don’t hear about pedestrians who make the same decision, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t avoiding the roundabout, either. It’s worth considering in the future if pedestrian traffic increases downtown. The fact there are two crosswalks in the vicinity of the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West doesn’t mean there are two crosswalks that are actually used.

It’s a situation worth monitoring in the future. But, for now, the state’s changed guidelines and the opportunity to add more downtown parking spaces make this change worthwhile, in our opinion.