Columbia residents eager for the city to discuss new pedestrian crossing project in Downtown Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia council will meet Tuesday to discuss the construction of the Fourth Street and Broadway pedestrian crossing project in Downtown Columbia.
This project design includes a new crosswalk connecting the northeast corner to the southeast corner of the Fourth Street and Broadway Intersection.
Columbia resident, Kin Brown, said she has an old new injury and it takes her a little bit longer to get across the roadways. "Having more crosswalks would make it more accessible to people like me with old injuries and preexisting conditions," said Brown.
The crosswalk will include new sidewalk ramps and landings, a raised center pedestrian island, painted crosswalk markings, and pedestrian crossing flashing beacons.
Not only that, but it will include two curb bump-outs with tree planters and stormwater filtration systems, a new sidewalk, and parking reconfiguration along the north side of Broadway. Plus, the westbound traffic lanes on Broadway between Fourth and Fifth streets will be reduced to a single lane.
Aaron Bentley, Columbia resident, said he thinks the added safety will attract more pedestrian traffic to the downtown area resulting in more business for the local community.
Brown said having that extra time to cross the street can alleviate anxiety and allow people to feel more comfortable.
According to the city's Vision Zero crash data, of the seven fatal crashes on Columbia public roadways in 2020, three of them involved pedestrians. These did not occur at intersections.
With the adoption of the Vision Zero Policy, the City of Columbia has set a goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
"It's definitely good for if you have kids out here they can cross the streets safely and especially after Mizzou has won a big game and people are drinking we want them to be able to get home safely," said Bentley.
The estimated total project cost is $278,000 including design, easement acquisition, utility relocation, and construction. Funding will come from the 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Program sales tax funds.
Construction is planned for the fall of 2021 or spring of 2022.
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
