Red light cameras, bike lanes, new sidewalks and pedestrian islands are some of the changes proposed for several West End high-crash intersections the city identified.
The city identified the seven high-crash intersections during a 2022 crash analysis and received federal funding to perform safety audits and develop concept designs.
The intersections under review for changes are:
- King Street and Dawes Avenue
- King Street and 28th Street
- King Street and Park Center Drive
- Seminary Road and Mark Center Avenue
- Seminary Road and Kenmore Avenue/Library Lane
- South Van Dorn Street and South Pickett Street
- South Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road
At King Street and Dawes Avenue, the city is proposing a new crosswalk, sidewalk and streetlights, as well as a pedestrian refuge island, curb extension, reflective backplates and no turn on red sign.
At King and 28th Streets, widened and new sidewalks, a pedestrian refuge island, curb extension, reflective backplates and no turn on red sign are proposed.
According to the city, both intersections have speeding and red light running concerns, poor visibility and lighting and signal timing issues. The King Street and Dawes Avenue intersection also has missing sidewalk and crosswalks, while King and 28th Streets have a slip lane encouraging high-speed turns, and long, exposed and missing sidewalks.
Two concepts are proposed at King Street and Park Center Drive. Both propose a curb extension, pedestrian refuge island, improved bus stop, reflective backplates and new streetlights, but the concepts show different locations for curb extensions and pedestrian refuge islands.
According to the city, the intersection has a double right-turn lane creating visibility issues, poor lighting and visibility, speeding and red light running, missing sidewalk, long, exposed crosswalks, signal coordination concerns and illegal U-turns.
At Seminary Road and Kenmore Avenue, the city proposed two options with a new traffic signal and crosswalk, pedestrian refuge island, curb extension, bus-only lane and signal, no turn on red sign and reflective backplates. The concepts differ with the placement of curb extensions and improved bus stop.
Issues identified by the city at the intersection were merging conflicts from the Interstate 395 ramp and roadway lanes, mid-block pedestrian crossings, speeding, high number of curb cuts, conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, and long crossings.
Two options have been proposed for Seminary Road and Mark Center Avenue. Both would include a red light camera, curb extension, improved lane markings and reflective backplates, while Concept 2 would also include improved left-turn lanes.
According to the city, drivers weaving across lanes, speeding, red light running and high-speed right turns from the slip lane are common issues.
At S. Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road, two concepts propose a red light camera, pedestrian refuge island, reflective backplates, no turn on red sign and new streetlights, while Concept 1 includes bike lanes.
The city says wide lanes encouraging speeding, narrow sidewalks, long, exposed crosswalks, red light running, poor visibility, frequent U-turns, distracted driving and failure to yield are common issues.
At S. Van Dorn and Pickett Streets, the city proposed a pedestrian refuge island, curb extension, improved bike lanes, new shared-use path, no turn on red sign and reflective backplates.
Red light running, poor visibility, intersection blocking, narrow sidewalks, long, exposed crosswalks, vehicles in the bike lane, signal timing challenges, distracted driving and failure to yield were identified as concerns at the intersection.
The changes come as part of the city’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from crashes by 2028. The section of King Street sought for changes has a 35 mph speed limit and had 60 crashes between 2020 and 2024 (one fatal, five with pedestrians and 23 with injuries). The studied area of Seminary Road has a 25 mph speed limit and 45 crashes from 2020 to 2024 (one with a pedestrian and 12 with injuries). S. Van Dorn Street has a 35 mph speed limit and 62 crashes from 2020 to 2024 (one with a bicycle, three with pedestrians and 30 with injuries).
The city is seeking feedback in its online survey by Nov. 6. Residents can also attend the West End Transportation Open House from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at The Forum at Minnie Howard High School (3775 W. Braddock Road) to learn about the project and others in the West End.
The city expects to take feedback collected in the fall to refine the concepts through spring 2027 before recommending final concepts and scheduling a public hearing in summer 2027.
Image via Google Maps
