San Antonio's notorious Zarzamora Street has won a federal grant worth $4.4 million to install new crosswalks aimed at reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries. In a city where 13 people lost their lives and 43 others were seriously injured from 2016 to 2020, these crossings are predicted to slash auto-pedestrian accidents by half, according to numbers provided by the city. Combined with $1.1 million in local funds dedicated to Vision Zero projects, the city is gearing up to add eight mid-block crossings to Zarzamora Street, a stretch known for its high traffic and pedestrian risks, as San Antonio Report detailed.
Defined as one of the city’s most dangerous corridors, the 12-mile run from Cincinnati Avenue to Southwest Military Drive has long been a hot spot for accidents. As reported by KSAT, the city hopes the new crosswalks, which include dedicated traffic lights, could make a significant difference. Despite being a busy road with 17 bus routes and 72,000 daily car trips, the simple existence of crosswalks doesn't guarantee usage—individuals seen jaywalking near existing crosswalks attest to the persistent challenge of changing behavioral patterns on foot.
"The locations that we will pick will be impactful. Again, where we see most of that pedestrian activity," Cat Hernandez, City of San Antonio Transportation Department Director, told KSAT. The crosswalks, she hopes, will be part of a larger strategy to promote safer pedestrian behaviors, together with a broader safety campaign on Zarzamora and nine other perilous roadways. The plan includes strategically placed mid-block crossings with dedicated traffic lights to encourage usage and serve as a visual reminder to drivers about pedestrian right-of-way.
Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, chair of the Transportation and Mobility Committee, underlined the urgency for these improvements, remarking, "We're a big city with big needs." In addressing the legacy of danger that has plagued Zarzamora Street, she underscored the potential of the Safe Streets and Roads for All program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, suggesting an increase in next year's budget to maximize the potential for additional safety projects, as per statements obtained by San Antonio Report.
The federal grant marks a departure from the typical procedure of channeling infrastructure funds via the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and reflects a national move towards granting local governments direct access to federal support for critical road safety projects. With this grant, the City of San Antonio is poised to demonstrate a successful model for pedestrian safety that could potentially influence other cities grappling with similar challenges.
