In a push to ramp up safety measures, Fort Worth's city leaders have given the green light to two major initiatives targeting the well-trodden entertainment districts, known hubs for locals and tourists alike.
A sizeable chunk of change—$49,100 from the Crime Control & Prevention District Capital Fund—was okayed by the council, earmarked specifically for assessing public safety strategies within these bustling nightlife zones; this move complements an earlier decision to invest $148,200 over a year in Safe Night LLC's expertise, according to the City of Fort Worth earlier they will not only evaluate the current state of safety but also pitch in with implementation of their proposed enhancements across all four districts.
Making headlines too, is the Council's approval of a contract with Mitchell Time and Parking to the tune of $140,524, this partnership aims to introduce retractable bollards designed for crowd and traffic regulation in the popular West 7th Street area. These bollards, sturdier than the conventional "sawhorse" barricades, are part of a broader scheme by the Police Department to tighten up crowd management.
The West 7th district, which morphs into an expansive pedestrian zone during peak times thanks to the strategic street closures implemented by law enforcement, is set to glean added safety from these installations; forty-one retractable bollards will stand guard at seven key intersections, preventing accidents and "cruising" incidents—effective barriers that can be easily manipulated by Police and Fire services when necessary, maintaining order amidst the teeming throngs that can swell to numbers between 10,000 and 15,000 on a given night.
