By Justin Vellucci
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Anup Aryal knows how disorienting Oakland crosswalks can seem: the throngs of students crossing at red lights, the alternate-direction bus lane, the impulse to drive faster on straight stretches dampened by the presence of so many pedestrians.

“As a driver, it creates a little bit of confusion for you,” Aryal, 33, of Mt. Lebanon said Monday as he prepared to walk across Fifth Avenue. “(An upgrade) is helpful, both from a pedestrian’s point of view and a driver’s point of view.”

Oakland-based groups and PennDOT have some upgrades in mind for Fifth and Forbes avenues. By late next spring, they hope to complete improvements at 11 intersections. They include extending curbs into the roadway, timing crosswalk signals for pedestrians and adding new handicapped ramps.

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