Philadelphia resident Latanya Byrd speaks out for automated enforcement on Roosevelt Blvd on a trip to the state Capitol.

Families for Safe Streets co-founder Latanya Byrd will join Mayor Jim Kenney, Councilperson Cherelle Parker, and others, as the mayor signs Bill 190184 on Wednesday, which authorizes the City of Philadelphia to install automated speed enforcement cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard.

Byrd, who helped create Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia in 2018, has been advocating for safety fixes to Roosevelt Boulevard for the last several years. She worked in Harrisburg and Philadelphia to help pass legislation that will put automated speed enforcement cameras on the Boulevard, making the street safer for years to come.

Byrd felt compelled to get involved in safe streets advocacy after her niece, Samara Banks, and three of Banks’ children, Saamir, Saasean, and Saadeem, were killed while crossing Roosevelt Boulevard on foot in 2013.

Since that time, Roosevelt Boulevard has continued to be a dangerous place for pedestrians and motorists. In 2018, 21 people were killed using Roosevelt Boulevard, which represents about 20 percent of all traffic deaths in Philadelphia that year. Speed cameras have been shown to bring down traffic deaths when used, which is why Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, AARP PA, AAA, and the rest of the Vision Zero Alliance, have continued to advocate for this technology — and other safety changes — on Philadelphia streets.

Byrd and the Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia organization advocates for safe streets in the Delaware Valley, and those interested in more information, and/or joining, can reach out using this link.

Tomorrow’s event will take place at 10am in the Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202, 2nd Floor, City Hall.

In addition to information about the work that went into getting the legislation passed, officials will release details on the program’s fall rollout and what drivers along the Boulevard can expect, according to a City press release.

WHO: Mayor Jim Kenney
PPA Executive Director Scott Petri
Deputy Managing Director for Transportation Mike Carroll
Councilmember Cherelle Parker, 9th District
Representative from AARP
Latanya Byrd, Co-founder of Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia

WHEN: Wednesday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202, 2nd Floor, City Hall