The city of San Diego announced Tuesday the completion of upgrades to 15 of the city’s most accident-prone intersections.
The improvements are part of the city’s Vision Zero program, with a goal of eliminating fatal traffic accidents altogether by 2025 via infrastructure upgrades and traffic safety education. Circulate San Diego released a list last April of the city’s 15 most dangerous intersections.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Circulate San Diego Executive Director Colin Parent held a news conference at the last intersection to be fixed, 33rd Street and El Cajon Boulevard, to discuss the improvements, which include higher-visibility crosswalk designation and audible pedestrian signals and countdown timers.
“This is all about making it safer for everyone — drivers, pedestrians and cyclists — as they navigate city streets,” Faulconer said. “Making crosswalks more visible and adding audible walk signals are just a few of the simple yet effective ways we can make our neighborhoods safer.”
Other intersections that underwent improvements include 10th Avenue and A Street, Fourth Avenue and B Street, Fifth Avenue and B Street, Euclid Avenue and Naranja Street, Fourth Avenue and University Avenue, Fourth Avenue and Market Street, Ash Street and Front Street, Coronado Avenue and Thermal Avenue, 33rd Street and El Cajon Boulevard, 52nd Street and University Avenue, 36th Street and El Cajon Boulevard, Sixth Avenue and Market Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Sixth Avenue and Broadway, and 11th Avenue and Broadway.
Faulconer announced plans to fix more than 300 more accident-prone intersections during his “State of the City” address last month. According to Faulconer’s office, Caltrans has awarded the city roughly $2.45 million for the improvements, which will start next year. City officials expect improvements to the first 50 intersections to be completed by the end of 2020.
The Vision Zero program includes engineering, education and enforcement – collectively referred to as the three “Es.” The city’s efforts are intended to raise awareness about traffic safety, change dangerous behaviors through enforcement efforts, and make safety improvements where fatalities and severe injuries have been shown to occur.
–City News Service