The Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention has made improvements with a new position and will adopt new recommendations from the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness
During its October 20th meeting, the Social Services and Public Safety (SSPS) Committee received an update on a Signalized Crosswalk Study.
The city hired outside firms to evaluate how crosswalks and traffic engineering efforts currently accommodate road users and to improve the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of drivers and pedestrians.
Image from the presentation to the Committee. VRU = Vulnerable Road Users.
During discussion, ouncilmembers Jennifer Reynolds and Emma Curtis noted that they each lost friends from crosswalk collisions. Curtis called pedestrian-involved crashes in Lexington an “epidemic" and said projects like the crosswalk study are an important step in addressing solutions.
In Lexington, there are 353 signalized intersections with potential pedestrian activity. Researchers will choose 25 priority intersections to redevelop based on crash volumes, safety concerns, and pedestrian foot traffic density.
The presentation noted the intersection of Broadway and High Street as the project’s top priority for redevelopment. Researchers found that this intersection has the highest combined pedestrian and vehicle activity in Lexington and would benefit from the installation of a pedestrian detection button and updated signal timing.
Image from the presentation to the Committee.
To lower risks, the study presented six targeted safety interventions:
Negative Pedestrian Offset: Delaying flashing yellow lights to give pedestrians exclusive walking rights.
Leading Pedestrian Intervals: Giving pedestrians a larger head start before traffic lights turn green.
Actuated Rest in Walk: Aligning the pedestrian with the green vehicle light, providing more walk time.
Right on Red Considerations: Implementing stricter "No Right Turn on Red" restrictions at high-conflict corners.
Add Pedestrian Detection: Installing advanced pedestrian detection buttons at more intersections.
Audible Pedestrian Detection: Increasing audio detection and countdown cues for visually impaired residents.
James is a Civic and Community Reporter with CivicLex. James is a part of Report for America, which supports journalists in local newsrooms, with support from Press Forward Blue Grass.
