BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – An enthusiastic cross spectrum of Clarkson University students are spending their summer focused on making local communities safer and more efficient.

Under the tutelage of Erik Backus, Professor of Practice/Director of the Construction Engineering Management Program, eight engineering students have been engaged in 12 street safety checks, creation of sidewalks and crosswalks, and other bicycle and pedestrian safeguards.

In Canton and under the auspices of the Village of Canton’s Complete Streets Committee, the students are now weeks into a safety study on Court Street.

In Potsdam, the students are engaged in a pedestrian safety study from the Pine/Sandstone/Maple intersection to the Walmart intersection on Rt. 11.

In Brasher Falls, the creation of sidewalks and crosswalks on Rt. 11C near St. Lawrence Central School is in the works.

“The goal is to improve access on Court Street both to and from Main Street. Initial findings have the pedestrian count around 100 per hour with one third of them students and an easy 100 vehicles per hour. It’s very car centric,” said student Matthew Cote, Canton. “I enjoy working with board members and the public. It’s cool developing our ideas and sharing with them.”

“At the kickoff meeting it sounded like there was a need for the ability to walk (to Walmart),'' said student Caeden Bailey of Tolland, Conn. of the Potsdam project.

“Students are literally walking on the side of the road and there are currently no crosswalks,” said student Nicholas Leggett of Richmond, Va. of the Brasher Falls project.

In all, eight students are involved in paid summer internships funded by the St. Lawrence Health Initiative.

“This study opportunity came to us through Karen Bage, director of the St. Lawrence Health Initiative, which in collaboration with Clarkson, funds this and other similar studies that enhance walking and biking safety in communities across the county,” said Village Trustee Klaus Proemm who sits on the Complete Our Streets Committee. “Complete Streets has been looking at potential safe pedestrian and bike pathways from the north side of Canton to downtown and south part of the village.”

Proemm stated that the village and the Complete Streets Task Force are most grateful to both the Health Initiative and Clarkson for this helpful community services.

“This study will support our effort to create safer pathways, both for kids getting to school and pedestrians and bicyclists in general,” remarked Proemm.

Backus praised the commitment and dedication the students put into their respective studies.

“I enjoy working with them. I see it as a service to the community and what better laboratory than our local community,” Backus remarked. “It’s nice to give back to the North Country in various ways.”

Proemm noted that a Judson Street study conducted several years ago has helped enhance safety measures on Judson Street, including a raised crossing at the Pleasant Street intersection, center and shoulder striping and improved sidewalk approaches at intersections.

“We hope to continue these improvements throughout the village,” he said.

A report on the findings will be presented to the Canton Village Board and its September meeting.

If residents have questions or input on Court Street safety and improvements, email Proemm at kproemm@cantonny.gov .