Roads that put pedestrians’ lives at risk traverse the tri-state region, and although no two dangerous roads are exactly alike, they tend to share a design that expedites the movement of motorized vehicles with little consideration for the needs of vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists.
These roads, however, can be made safer for drivers and non-drivers with simple and relatively low-cost modifications like pedestrian countdown signals, well-marked crosswalks, crossing islands and other context-sensitive safety improvements.
Last week, Tri-State released an analysis on the region’s Most Dangerous Roads for Walking. This year, in addition to looking at total fatalities and targeting locations where pedestrian deaths are clustered, we’ve also highlighted areas where state agencies and local governments are redesigning roads with sorely-needed safety improvements. Here are a few that stand out:
Route 211, Wallkill, NY Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo announced $67 million in grants for municipalities to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. The Town of Wallkill in Orange County, one of the grant recipients, will receive $1.13 million to extend sidewalks and add landscaping to a portion of Route 211 that is lacking both. While there were no pedestrian deaths along this arterial road in the three years from 2010 through 2012, according to the Wallkill Police Department, Route 211 has been the site of at least 22 pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes in the past 10 years.
Montclair, NJ In 2009, Montclair Township became the first New Jersey municipality to enact a complete streets policy. Since the policy’s passage, Monclair has undertaken a number of pedestrian and bicycle projects, including the South Park Street project, completed in 2012. Work on South Park Street included streetscape improvements, wider sidewalks, a midblock crosswalk and a new center median. The pedestrian-friendly redesign has contributed to the economic vitality of Montclair’s vibrant downtown.
US-44, East Hartford, CT Changes are coming to US-44, Connecticut’s second-most deadly road for pedestrians. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) will transform a three-mile section of US-44 from a four lane road into a two lane road with additional parking, bike lanes and dedicated turn lanes. Pedestrian safety improvements will also be undertaken. Four pedestrians died on US-44 in the three years from 2010 through 2012, with two fatalities within the project area (from US-5 to Mary Street). According to a ConnDOT press release, the project design is expected to be completed by spring 2014 and construction should begin in spring 2015.
