The next step in the public’s efforts to get much-needed safety improvements on the nightmare of a road that is Washington Avenue will be happening TONIGHT.
From 6pm to 7:30pm at the Rock School for Dance Education at 1101 South Broad Street, the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities, The Planning Commission, and the Streets Department will be hosting a public meeting to hear concerns from citizens on how this major arterial road can be improved not just for cyclists but for motorists and pedestrians as well.
“We are hosting this listening session to allow different stakeholders to share their ideas and concerns with each other, that we hope to incorporate into viable options to share,” according to an email signed off by MOTU, the Planning Commission and the Streets Department.
We held a well-attended orientation last night at Tattooed Mom’s during which the coalition’s Deputy Director Sarah Clark Stuart and Policy Coordinator Bob Previdi spoke about the most pressing areas that absolutely need to be addressed tomorrow.
These areas are:
- Clearer designation of parking spaces
- Safer crosswalks for pedestrians including the addition of refuge areas
- Restriping of everything including a buffered bike lane
- Elimination of areas which have consistent illegal parking
- Improved light timing to improve traffic flow
All of these points including potential street designs can found in a fact sheet we’ve put together. That can be found here.
We, along with concerned citizens will be asking for swift action on these issues because time is running short.
As soon as fall hits and the temperature drops below 40 degrees the Streets Department can’t do any lane restriping.
Residents of Washington Avenue and its commuters cannot go another year with these lingering safety issues. Four people have been killed and 234 injured on Washington Avenue since 2010. Safety improvements on this road are needed now!
-Zach Mentzer