Harrisburg seeks input to improve road safety

(Harrisburg) — The City of Harrisburg is working to address a spate of pedestrian deaths in recent years.

Two pedestrians and one cyclist were killed in crashes in the city in 2017. Three pedestrians died in 2016, and two in 2015. 

Now the city is moving forward with its Vision Zero initiative by seeking community input on ways to improve traffic safety. Vision Zero aims to eliminate serious pedestrian injuries and deaths in the next decade. 

Surveys for the project can be submitted online through Thursday, June 7th.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse told WITF’s Smart Talk responses will help inform future decisions.

“For instance, we don’t want to make Second Street a two-way street and improve pedestrian safety there without also looking at its impact in other parts of the city. We don’t want to send more commuters up State Street, for instance, and make it less safe for people who live there,” Papenfuse said. 

State Street will be the first area of focus for the initiatve.

Papenfuse said the road is dangerous for pedestrians since it’s basically a super-highway that cuts through a residential neighborhood.

“Just over the years that design and some of the designs of our other roads were based just with the automobile in mind,” he said. “And as Harrisburg is beginning to grow, all of our transportation decision are based with the pedestrian, and the walker, and the biker and the mass transit user in mind.”

“Rapid responses” such as paint warnings on roadways and temporary signs, could help drivers to pay attention and slow down on busy streets. Long-term changes will be based on the city’s budget.

To hear the complete interview with Papenfuse, visit the Smart Talk page.