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Charlotte transportation leaders working to improve pedestrian safety

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the past six weeks, Channel 9 has covered six serious crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Charlotte.

The most recent wreck happened Monday morning when a bicyclist was rushed to a hospital in life-threatening condition after a private security officer crashed into him on Randolph Road.

Transportation leaders are taking action after a high-profile case in west Charlotte.

It's been nine months since 11-year-old Ty'Asia Young was killed crossing West Boulevard. Stuffed animals and flowers are still resting at her memorial along the busy street.

Transportation leaders are now planning walk-throughs along the corridor to improve dangerous stretches.

"Instead of buying an Easter basket or buying her Easter clothes or taking her to a cookout, we had to go put flowers on her grave," said Mary Fryar, Ty'Asia's mother.

Fryar said her daughter had dreams of becoming a scientist.

"My daughter was hit and killed here July 13 of 2016 crossing the street; coming home from the store," Fryar said.

There were 10 deadly pedestrian crashes in 2015, and it rose to 15 in 2016,” Charlotte-Mecklenberg police said.

Already in 2017, seven pedestrians and two bicyclists have been killed.

"We're looking at ways that we can find ways to make it easier and more comfortable for people to travel along these busy streets and head across these busy streets,” said Dan Gallagher, the Charlotte Department of Transportation planning manager.

Charlotte Department of Transportation is working to improve pedestrian safety throughout the city. Right now, it is focusing on West Boulevard.

On Tuesday, CDOT leaders will walk West Tyvola Road to Remount Road. On Wednesday, they will walk Bill Graham Parkway to West Tyvola Road. On Thursday, they will walk Remount Road to Camden Road.

City Council members and concerned members of the community are invited to join them.

"We're going to walk the corridor with them; see it from their perspective; from their eyes and see what changes we might possibly be able to make," Gallagher said.

Fryar told Channel 9 that she is pushing for new stop lights and crosswalks.

"I'm happy that they're coming out in this neighborhood to see for them(selves), to know this is dangerous and lives are being taken away from them by cars,” Fryar said.

Transportation officials said they are also working to improve pedestrian safety along other busy corridors, such as South Boulevard, South Tryon and The Plaza.

The schedule for the walking tours is below. Each tour is roughly a half-mile long one way, and will take about an hour to complete. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and residents should arrive 15-20 minutes early to sign-in.

Input collected during the walking tours will be used to help prioritize improvements along the corridor.

West Tyvola Road to Remount Road

When: Tuesday, April 18

Where: West Boulevard Branch Library

Billy Graham Parkway to West Tyvola Road

When: Wednesday, April 19

Where: CMPD Westover Division

Remount Road to Camden Road

When: Thursday, April 20

Where: Calvary United Methodist Church

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