Ridge99: September 2023

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

a miracle on Western

If you noticed construction at a number of intersections on Western today, you saw a miracle happening. These are new pedestrian refuge islands, places to stop when crossing the street to make it safer to cross the street. These can also help a bit with traffic calming.

I saw them under construction at the following locations:

105th St. near Nicky's and Horse Thief Hollow

108th St. near County Fair and DiCola's

110th St. in front of Clissold School, near Open Outcry

112th St.

113th St. by Kennedy Park and Smith Village

113th Pl by Kennedy Park and Smith Village

The one place I saw where we a median refuge island could be feasible and useful but I didn't see one under construction was 101st St., where it would be helpful for pedestrians going to/from Beverly Park.

For years I've wanted to see these to make it easier for people to access parks, businesses, schools and other locations more easily and safely without needing to walk blocks out of their way to cross at a stoplight. I hope these help to calm our usually fast and unruly traffic and make it easier for people to access destinations on and near Western without having to use cars.