Students Petition For Sidewalks On Greenburgh Roads

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Westchester Community College's Student Government Association is asking students and community members alike to join their petition to build sidewalks along Greenburgh and Valhalla roads that lead to the college campus.

A Westchester Community College student walks into campus from Grasslands Road. The college's student government is hoping the state will provide funding for sidewalks to increase student safety.
Photo Credit: *Samantha Kramer*

Westchester Community College students attempt to weave through the cars on their walk to the bus stop during the November snow storm.
Photo Credit: *Neish Dawkins*

by Samantha Kramer

01/09/2013 12:01 a.m.

The students are hoping that their petition, which has already garnered 120 signatures, will show Westchester County and state legislators the need for a safe place for students to walk. SGA President Taje Champagnie said students of WCC, a commuter college, are always walking along these heavily trafficked roads to get to the nearby bus stops.

"The issue is the roads themselves are very narrow, and it's just unsafe in general," Champagnie said.

The SGA has received several complaints from students who were almost hit by cars traveling down Grasslands Road and Knollwood Road, both which lead to the campus.

One WCC student who supported the petition wrote she's nervous to walk to school — especially when the weather gets bad.

"I've almost been hit several times walking on the roads surrounding the school. It is insane that there are no sidewalks," wrote Kassandra Gonzalez, of White Plains. "During a recent snowstorm, students were walking down Grasslands Road against the traffic…it was extremely dangerous."

While the SGA will spread its message through events and booths around campus, they're also looking for support from their community.

Once it gains more signatures, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner has offered his support in getting the petition to state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Because Grasslands and Knollwood are state roads, it would need state funding to be completed.

"There's definitely a need for a sidewalk there," said Feiner. "I've offered to meet with them and go through the process of advocating before legislators."

It's too early to estimate how much it would cost, Feiner added, and it also depends on how far the sidewalks would extend along the roads.

While the project has begun on a school level, SGA member Jerson Cochancela hopes the community will take part in efforts to increase pedestrian safety.

"It's a student initiative, but it's become a community initiative," Cochancela said. "The more attention we can bring to the matter, the better. We can't do this alone."

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