The Common Council on Tuesday (September 21) approved a unanimously supported pedestrian safety and anti-reckless driving initiative that will use $6 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to install various community-supported pedestrian safety improvements along 25 miles of the City’s Pedestrian High Injury Network.
The safety improvements – to be managed and carried out by the Department of Public Works – will focus on reducing motor vehicle speeds and reckless driving, which are primary threats to the safety of people walking and biking, said Alderman Michael J. Murphy, co-chair of the City-County Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force and chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
According to Council file #210745, the proposed improvements may include curb extensions, pedestrian refuge islands, raised crosswalks, pedestrian signals, bike lanes, pavement markings, street trees, and green infrastructure. It includes approximately $1 million to be used to offset the special assessments (typically billed to property owners) associated with the installation of traffic calming treatments.
“All 15 members rarely agree on one particular item, but this issue (reckless driving and pedestrian safety) hits home for each of us and has brought deadly consequences in nearly every aldermanic district,” Alderman Murphy said.
“I am very pleased that we are all on the same page and unanimous in addressing this top issue together,” he said.
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