In a bid to tackle the alarmingly high rate of roadway accidents, the City of Memphis has initiated a Safety Action Plan, aiming to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities. Roadway safety has emerged as a pressing concern for Memphis residents, prompting city leaders to solicit community feedback to guide their intervention strategies. According to Action News 5, the plan is backed by a substantial $16 million, combining a federal grant and local tax dollars for improvements.
The city's drive for safer roads was evident at a community meeting in Frayser. Doug Swett of Kimley Horn underscored the ubiquitous problem of speeding. In a statement obtained by Action News 5, Swett emphasized the importance of feedback, "As we tap into what the issues are in Memphis, we’re going to then identify strategies, policies, and projects that can have a positive impact on that." Rufus Findley, echoing this sentiment, called for more policing to deter rampant disregard for traffic laws, a view that resonates with many Memphians.
Safety issues extend beyond vehicular incidents, with pedestrian education also marked as critical. Beverly Clay suggested to Local Memphis that both drivers and pedestrians could benefit from increased understanding and cooperation. These input sessions are fundamental to the Safety Action Plan, which also includes educational campaigns for schoolchildren called "traffic gardens," where they can learn roadway safety in simulated environments.
Safety concerns on specific roads like Stage Road and Southern Avenue have been vocalized, indicating the local's firsthand knowledge of hazardous conditions. According to FOX13, the city's Bikeway and Pedestrian Program Manager, Will Ezzell stressed the value of resident feedback, saying “Anyone that comes and tells us something is something that we are going to be able to put in the plan.” Ezzell also noted the pliability of the plan, which aims to reflect the concerns brought forth by the public. The Memphis Safety Action Plan website invites residents to take a survey and mark out dangerous spots on an interactive map, inviting broad community participation.
As the city embarks on this journey towards a safer Memphis, more community meetings are scheduled for January, ensuring ongoing dialogue between city officials and those whose daily lives intertwine with the flow of the city's streets. Traffic fatalities in the seven counties of the Memphis District have seen a recent decline. According to data from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, there's been a 21% decrease this year, signaling potential early benefits from the city's focus on roadway safety.
