In a move to enhance pedestrian safety, the City's latest traffic-calming initiative has raised crosswalks on St. Mary's Street, and these new installations near Clay Street and Brooklyn Street have just been completed, with the City wrapping things up last month by laying down the final road markers. These raised walkways come as a part of a broader Vision Zero strategy aimed at cutting down serious injuries and fatalities on the roads, striving to create secure and equitable mobility for all Raleigh residents.
Now, what makes these new crosswalks stand out is the simple yet effective design—they gently ramp up to sidewalk level, this design not only slows down the oncoming traffic but also makes those on foot much easier to spot, and they blend seamlessly into the sidewalk, offering an accessible path for parents with strollers, wheelchair users, or anyone with mobility concerns. Notable too is that studies have put the efficacy of such features into figures, with reports indicating a potential reduction in pedestrian-related accidents by almost half, according to a recent City of Raleigh statement.
Strategically placed, the new raised crosswalks on St. Mary's lie within a nexus of pedestrian activity: close to Broughton High School, Fred Fletcher Park, the nearby GoRaleigh bus stop, and within an arm's reach of the downtown life. The confluence of these destinations means that there's a steady stream of foot traffic and consequently, these raised pathways serve as a much-needed improvement for pedestrians' safety in the area.
Vision Zero has their eyes set on replicating this success in additional spots downtown, working in tandem with the Raleigh Fire Department, they've managed to keep these areas accessible for emergency vehicles, a detail ensuring that these new facilities reinforce not just the safety of walkers but that of the community-at-large as well.
