Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — The Romero family has been overwhelmed with community support and continues to work to get a safer intersection in Montrose.

Tuesday, Michael Romero, his family and other supporters, gathered on the corner of Townsend Avenue and Columbia Way to gather more petition signatures after the Montrose School District called the family saying it has received an abundance of calls about signing the petition.

The intersection is the same location where Romero's daughter, 11-year-old Asia Barrientos, was hit by a car in the crosswalk. Barrientos didn't have enough time to get across the road before the light turned green.

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Since then, Romero has gathered three pages of signatures in support of several changes to make the intersection safer. Two other individuals are also circulating petitions.

Romero's petition is asking for four changes.

-Increase the amount of time pedestrians have to cross all lanes of traffic before the light changes.

-Install flashing school zone lights with reduced speed limit on Townsend Avenue to warn drivers of school pedestrian traffic.

-Request that the school district post two crosswalk guards at this intersection.

-Request that school district crosswalk guards walk with school children completely across Townsend Avenue rather than escorting them only half way as they currently do.

The first two petition requests are in the hands of the Colorado Department of Transportation, which in an earlier interview, said the signal had adequate crossing time and that it would not be changed. CDOT did, however, say it would look at moving the crossing area to align with the handicap ramp sometime in the future.

Romero said he's received several calls from residents, saying they too have almost seen someone hurt at the intersection and also want change.

Romero has also contacted the school board and city council to be put on their meeting agendas to discuss the issue.

The next city council meeting is Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and the next school board meeting is Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Romero said he still has to confirm if he is on those agendas.

 

Comments

danny wrote on Nov 7, 2009 6:30 AM:

" my words are to comment on what mike Romero is doing for thies children.its sad that it takes a debate or should i say a battle for one to be heard.the children are first and i see that mike is not fighting for what has happend to his doughter but to make change for future forseen accedents.lets just avoid any future accedents people.D.O.T. our children need change what is 5 sec any ways you took longer reading this.ablis. "




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thoughts wrote on Oct 30, 2009 9:41 PM:

" Why isn't anyone pushing to get the streets realigned? Isn't that really the problem? "




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What wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:53 PM:

" What on earth do these signs say? They are impossible to read! "




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Just Me wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:16 AM:

" I saw people with signs yesterday at the intersection but with the terrible lettering I couldnt tell what they said. It all looked like it was done in graffiti type of writing. "




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