Indianapolis takes steps to improve pedestrian safety
10.12.11

WTHR

INDIANAPOLIS - The city could spend nearly a million dollars of federal money on improving pedestrian crosswalks at dangerous intersections.

Indianapolis is taking action by upgrading cross boxes. They're also considering new paint, flashing lights and other steps.

Amy Karozos thinks Indy can be a dangerous place. She was hit at the intersection of Ohio and Meridian Streets.

"When I was crossing and I was hit the person didn't even realize it or if they did they didn't stop," she said. She has also had a close call. "I was just a block over and a guy in front of me got hit and it knocked him down and the guy kept going. So I had to, like, hit the car to make him stop," said Karozos.

She is pleased to know that upgrades are on the way. Right now the city is working on a project to change the "walk, don't walk" signals to indicators which count pedestrians down at 133 intersections around the city.

It's not just downtown. The city has a 280-thousand dollar grant to improve Monon Trail crossings where there have been far too many near misses.  The plan could include anything from re-painting the crosswalks to adding flashing lights.

Dustan Coombs is happy to hear about the upgrades, but would like to see the city invest in his neighborhood. He told us "I don't want my kid to be hit or anybody else's kid to be hit." He lives near 40th and Ruckle, near St. Joan of Arc school. Here there are few signs and the crosswalks in the streets are faded.

Kara Brooks, with the Department of Public Works, says they need to hear from residents. "We can't be everywhere and so we, of course are out doing work. But we rely on residents to let us know what their concerns are so that we can get those addressed," said Brooks.

St. Joan of Arc school has actually applied for a federal grant on their own to make signage and crosswalk upgrades to the area around the school.

If you have concerns about an intersection, you can call the Mayors action hotline.

http://www.wthr.com/story/15672084/indianapolis-takes-steps-to-improve-pedestrian-safety