Residents worry it’s unsafe to cross at Sixth Street
Gilroy – Seniors at Wheeler Manor say they want a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Sixth and Carmel streets, where they cross to walk or catch eastbound buses to the Senior Center, City Hall and the library.
“The speed limit here is 35,” said Gloria Lauriano, president of the Wheeler Manor Resident Council, “but they don’t go 35! We’re getting concerned because many residents don’t see well.”
In a letter addressed to City Council and City Hall, Lauriano also requested a reduced speed limit and ‘Senior Crossing’ signs, and suggested installing a speed bump or stop sign to slow traffic. Historically, Gilroy traffic engineers have been reluctant to install speed bumps, which may slow emergency vehicles en route to accidents.
“We residents, who are elderly, cannot, at present, walk safely to the Senior Center which is just two blocks away,” wrote Lauriano. “We cannot safely cross Sixth Street to catch a bus.”
Ninety-seven Wheeler Manor residents signed her petition, after seniors voiced concern at a December Resident Council meeting. Roughly a dozen seniors walk to the Senior Center for lunch every day, said center director Ty Ashford. Many use four-wheeled carts or walkers to make the trip.
Ashford said he hasn’t heard complaints about pedestrian safety en route to the center, especially since construction of the new police station slowed traffic to the center’s Hanna Street parking lot.
City traffic engineer Don Dey said he’d received the letter, and would evaluate the intersection before deciding whether changes were necessary. Traffic hasn’t increased dramatically at the intersection, he said. Dey was unsure when he would be able to respond to the seniors’ request.
