- Phoenix ranks fourth-worst in the U.S. for pedestrian fatalities.
- First-offense jaywalking now carries a citation, no warnings.
- $5.6M planned for ten new pedestrian-activated crosswalks.
Pedestrian safety isn’t always the highest priority in America, but that might be changing. Phoenix, the fourth-worst city in the nation regarding pedestrian fatalities, is about to attack the problem from multiple angles.
The nation’s fifth-largest city in terms of population is set to spend millions on new infrastructure aimed at protecting people on foot. At the same time, it’s tightening enforcement of jaywalking, treating it with a seriousness it hadn’t before.
Pedestrians dart across streets at nearly every busy intersection, often far from marked crosswalks. “I’ve lived on this corner for seven years, and people cross all the time,” said one resident to AZ Family. “I’ve done it myself.” City officials hope the new rules will curb that behavior…