Columbia City Council passes controversial median ordinance

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council voted 5–2 on Monday to approve a median ordinance that had been delayed since November.

The ordinance, which takes effect in July, regulates the use of medians, road crossings and traffic islands for both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or higher, average daily traffic volumes of at least 15,000 vehicles, or medians narrower than six feet.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll and Ward 2 Councilwoman Vera Elwood voted against the ordinance. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was among those who voted in favor of the measure.

Carroll said none of the boards or commissions that reviewed the proposal supported the ordinance. Elwood argued the measure was not data-driven, citing limited information to support claims it would improve pedestrian safety.

Elwood added that while she believed the ordinance was well-intentioned, she was concerned about how it could be enforced in the future. She said the council cannot guarantee the measure will be applied consistently once current members leave office or as the police force turns over, leaving the ordinance’s intent and enforcement open to interpretation.

However, Buffaloe argued that the eight reported incidents involving pedestrians on medians are more than she would like to see and that data showed pedestrains that get hit by a car traveling just 30mph have just a 50 percent survival rate.

The approved ordinance will:

• Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren't available.
• Prohibit being on a median fewer than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.
• Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.
• Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.
• Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

In November, the council voted to table the ordinance, noting that they needed more clarification on the ordinance.

The discussion of the ordinance was split amongst the community. Some comments from a city survey say the ordinance will keep pedestrians and drivers safe. Others, however, say the ordinance targets panhandlers and criminalizes homelessness.

At the meeting

Public comment stretched more than an hour Monday night, with 39 speakers largely focused on how the proposed ordinance could affect people experiencing homelessness and residents with disabilities.

While a handful of speakers supported the measure, calling it a “common-sense” step to improve public safety, the overwhelming majority of those who addressed the council spoke in opposition.

City staff told council members earlier in the meeting that Columbia has 115 designated street-crossing segments, 58 of which do not have traffic signals — a point opponents cited as evidence the ordinance could make crossing major roads more difficult.

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said the city applied for a federal grant to help overhaul some of those intersections. While Columbia did not receive the construction funding it sought, Seewood said the city was awarded a planning grant that positions it to compete for a larger grant that could fund improvements at several intersections affected by the ordinance.

Before public comment began, the council voted on five amendments to the ordinance, most of which involved clarifying language or technical changes.

One amendment addressed accessibility concerns raised by Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample, who cited instances where the absence of sidewalks has forced people using mobility scooters into traffic lanes, including along Providence Road.

The council approved revised language stating pedestrians may not be prohibited from using a major roadway when there is no available sidewalk or path of travel that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act