Columbia City Council to discuss pedestrian safety

UPDATE: The Columbia City Council accepted the final report on pedestrian safety Monday night.

The report was discussed at length by council members and Mayor Bob McDavid. Mayor McDavid recognized that some of the recommendations will take a lot of work and could face some opposition, referring to the recommendation: “using automated enforcement such as red light cameras and speed cameras.”

ORIGINAL STORY, 6:01 a.m., 4/4/16: There are two big items on the agenda for Monday night’s Columbia City Council meeting.

One is pedestrian safety, as the mayor’s task force was asked to make recommendations to reduce pedestrian motor vehicle collisions and improve overallpedestrian safety.

There are 16 recommendations. The key recommendations include:
-increasing funding for Columbia police traffic safety enforcement,
-prohibiting cell phone use and texting while driving,
-reducing posted legal speed limits,
-using automated enforcement such as red light cameras and speed cameras, and
-developing a comprehensive traffic safety education and communication campaign.

There will also be a reading of a bill for a proposed group home for Woodhaven. This particular home would house up to five developmentally disabled adults and one 24-hour caretaker.

The bill would rezone property on the south side of Green Meadows Circle and the north side of Green Meadows Road.

Last month, Columbia’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-0 to approve the proposal.

ABC 17 News will have crews at tonight’s City Council meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.