We agree with Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell that having a pedestrian streetlight installed at the Washington crosswalk by the Egyptian Theatre is a good idea. It would require vehicles to stop for pedestrian traffic during high volume times, such as when the Egyptian empties following a weekend evening movie or other performance.
This would not be unprecedented. There’s an example nearby for a crosswalk that links hotels in downtown Salt Lake City. The lights that stop traffic would not be perpetual, just used during peak times and initiated by pedestrians.
This is not a decision that Ogden could make on its own. Washington Boulevard is part of Highway 89. However, the city should consult with officials about providing a safer crosswalk for patrons of Peery’s Egyptian. It would be an effective way to prevent accidents of the type that occurred recently.
There was a serious accident last Saturday night after a movie at Peery’s Egyptian Theatre. While crossing Washington Boulevard, on the 2400 block near the theater, two elderly women and a girl, 12, were hit by a truck. Their injuries were critical.
The trio was in a mid-street crosswalk when hit. The girl had an orange flag over her head when they were hit. Undoubtedly the fact that ornamental street lighting — between 24th Street and 25th Street — had malfunctioned earlier in the evening contributed to the wreck. Mayor Caldwell, who was five minutes away from the site of the accident when it occurred, was seeking explanations for the malfunction almost immediately after the accident.
Certainly there needs to be assurances that lighting around the theater is appropriate, particularly on nights when there are movies. Saturday’s accident occurred after the Egyptian had shown a movie from the Banff Film Festival.
Some of Caldwell’s initial ideas to avoiding a repeat of Saturday’s accident include installing temporary lighting when necessary and having police escorts on both sides of Washington Boulevard on busy nights at the Egyptian.
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