Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley on Friday announced a number of safety improvements, initiatives and policy changes designed to increase pedestrian safety in the city.
Mayor Cranley held a press conference outside Western Hills University High School on Ferguson Road. He was joined by Cincinnati Public School board members and community leaders.
The announcement comes after more than a dozen CPS students have been struck by vehicles while walking to school. One student was killed while crossing a street to catch a Metro bus ride to school. A number of adult pedestrians have also been hit by vehicles in crosswalks.
The changes Cranley is proposing include the following (costs are rough estimates):
Westwood, $275,000
- Bump-outs along Ferguson Road in front of Western Hills University High School to slow traffic ($200,000)
- Flashing lights at the crosswalks on Ferguson Road in front of Western Hills University High School ($45,000)
- Crosswalk to be added at Sydney and Glenway ($15,000)
- Signage for the elimination of the rush hour lane on Harrison from Montana to Boudinot ($15,000)
Pleasant Ridge, $100,000
- Closing Douglass Terrace at Montgomery to thru traffic ($25,000)
- Crosswalk and traffic light to be added at Grand Vista and Montgomery ($75,000)
Sayler Park, $125,000
- Crosswalk and light to be added at Wilkins Short and River Road ($125,000)
Mt. Washington, $400,000
- Safe Routes to School grant for sidewalk at Sussex and Corbly ($400,000 and requires successful grant application)
Crossing Guards
- Ordinance to allow for volunteers to serve as crossing guards
- Allow CPS to hire and train crossing guards and amend traffic code to require drivers to stop for CPS hired guards
Safety Initiatives
- Vision Zero (national program to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries)
- Pedestrian Stat (using the city's data program to study pedestrian crashes to identify problem areas and determine if solutions are reducing crashes in current hotspots)
The full Cincinnati City Council will have to approve many of the measures contained in Cranley's proposal.
