Politics & Government

City Holds Pedestrian Safety Workshop

Evanston residents are invited to come out to a workshop Tuesday night at the Civic Center.

Two months after in a crosswalk by a driver speeding near Oakton School, city officials will convene a discussion of pedestrian safety.

The city will host a workshop on the subject from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, in room 2200 of the . Residents are invited to stop by at any time during the workshop to share their thoughts with city staff, police and members of a traffic consulting firm who will be on hand.

"Pedestrian safety is a growing issue in many communities especially during summer months and as we approach the beginning of the next school year,” Public Works Director Suzette Robinson said in a press release. “It is our hope to bring a diverse group of community members together in conjunction with city staff to discuss pedestrian safety and strategies.”

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Organizers are seeking feedback on pedestrian crossings, school route safety and education and speed reduction strategies, according to the release.

While car accidents involving a pedestrian have declined over the past three years in Evanston, Robinson has said her department is focusing its efforts on even further.

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Excluding car accidents that happened on private property and in alleys, there were 52 accidents involving pedestrians in 2011, down from 55 in 2010 and 67 in 2009, according to Robinson.

In 2011, some of the were Green Bay Road and Central Street, Davis Street and Ridge Avenue, and several intersections along Chicago Avenue.

The city is already planning improvements at some of those intersections, including work to improve pedestrian visibility at Davis and Ridge, where seven pedestrian accidents occurred last year. Public works crews have also installed countdown walk signals in several locations.

To improve safety at school crossings, engineers hired by the city will begin a study of school walk routes this fall, and Robinson said that the city hopes to implement their recommendations by 2013. The city is also working with District 65 schools and PTAs to develop the best routes for students who walk, and to make that information public.

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