Chicago sees increase in pedestrian deaths
Despite attempts to increase pedestrian safety on Chicago's streets, pedestrian deaths are on the rise. According to Brian Steele, a Department of Transporation spokesperson, the agency is looking into the reasons behind the increase. Steele believes that in some cases, problems with pavement markings, faulty signage and construction projects maybe partly to blame.
In 2008, 56 pedestrians were killed on Chicago streets, up from 49 fatalities in 2007 and 48 in 2006.
Steele also believes that more people are walkiing. Chicago was named the U.S.'s 4th most walkable large city in 2008 by Walk Score. Still, Steele said, "One fatality is one too many. Fifty-odd pedestrian fatalities is close to an average of one a week, that's far too many. We're committed to this, and the most difficult part of this is changing driver behavior.
An analysis conducted by the RedEye of the data provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation pertaining to pedestrian fatalities, revealed that pedestrian deaths occurred everywhere in the city. There were, however, clusters of fatal crashes at Stony Island Ave., Madison St and Ashland Ave., and along Lake Shore Dr. Although some of these intersections employ safeguards, the problems stil persisted.
Another dangerous intersection is located at Chicago and Cicero Avenues. An elementary school is located near the intersection, so there is high number of children using that intersection. A Cook County medical facility attracts a large amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic to the area. CTA bus No. 66-Chicago Avenue and No 54-Cicero Ave., also cross paths in this intersection.
Stormi Davis doesn't walk when she crosses the intersection, she runs. Davis, 21 who is from Austin, says "You're taking a chance with that light. It's just hectic traffic. Like being on the expressway."
Jansen Daoud, owner of a convenient store that faces the intersecton says motorists are only partly to blame. "Kids and adults cross...illegally. Then cars come too fast."
Daoud says he witnesses two to three accidents per week. Some of these accidents include pedestrians.
In 2007 the city installed a red-light camera hoping it would prevent future accidents at the intersection. In 2008, two pedestrians were killed at or near that intersection in two separate incidences.
After a fatal accident involving a pedestrian, the CDOT will try to figure what caused the fatality by examinng the crash site. In some instances, CDOT replaced the traffic light with a light that provides a countdown for pedestrians, added signs and repainted the markings in the intersection so that they are more visible.
CDOT plans on utilizing traffic circles in the center of intersections on residential streets. On busier arteries, the CDOT is looking into installing small "pedestrian refuge islands" in the medians of thses roadways.
Making these improvement will not be cheap. One red light camera costs $24,500. Because of the city's contract with Redflex, the price of the camera was reduced from $100,00 each. The city is currently using 133 cameras now and plans on installing an additional fifty cameras.
New signs cost up $75 to make and install.
The city received a $27,000 grant from IDOT to pay for "crosswalk awareness initiatives" at the intersections of Milwaukee and Lawndale Avenues and Belmont and Lawndale Avenues. One-hundred seventy nine motorists were stopped by police and given warnings for failing to yield to pedestrians who were undercover officers.
According to Police Sgt. Antoinett Ursitti said another forty-eight initiatives are in the works. but she would not reveal when and where.
The cost to repaint a crosswalk for a 40' wide street can run as high $525 per crosswalk and up to $2100 per intersection. Larger arterial streets are more expensive.
The crosswalk at Roosevelt Rd and State Street was restriped in 2008. This intersection is a "hotbed" for traffic. The Roosevelt train station for the CTA's red, green and orange lines is near the intersection.
According to Steele, a pedestrian, under the influence, was hit by a car there in 2008 after running across the street several times. A new signal timing device is scheduled to be installed this month at the intersection. It will increase the length of the "don't walk" sign.
A red-light camera has been installed there, but doesn't seem to help slow cars down. According to Marc Deros 24, of Berweyn, "That does't help at all."
