A successful street-calming project in Winton Hills is leading to bigger things around Cincinnati.
Cincinnati's Department of Transportation & Engineering will be installing speed cushions throughout the city after their temporary use in Winton Hills significantly dropped speeds for traveling vehicles.
Since Winton Hills' rubber cushions, which look like two speed humps side by side, were installed on Winneste Avenue in September, average vehicle speeds have dropped from 37 mph to 20 mph, a Feb. 7 report from the city shows.
Just 11% of vehicles exceeded the posted speed limit of 25mph after installation. Before that, 95% did, the report adds.
The Department of Transportation & Engineering plans to make the speed humps in Winton Hills permanent before expanding the program to other neighborhoods this year. Streets near schools and with significant crash history will be prioritized. Residents can contact their community councils to suggest placement.
Pedestrian safety has been a growing concern in Cincinnati neighborhoods in recent years. In June, members of the Cincinnati City Council allocated $500,000 of the FY 2022 budget to pedestrian safety improvements, bringing the year's total to about $1.25 million once you add in the city manager's budget. In 2022 budget documents, the city says that locally, Vision Zero has "developed over 200 pedestrian safety projects in 37 neighborhoods" with 2021 budget funds.
Vision Zero is an initiative to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and injuries, with increased traffic enforcement, infrastructure improvements and a sweeping plan to change the way the city approaches traffic safety. The movement began in Sweden and has been implemented in cities around the globe, including in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education also has adopted Vision Zero.
In a Feb. 9 press release, Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys says he plans to convene a "Safer Streets Now" pedestrian safety forum with national experts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at Hirsch Recreation Center, 3630 Reading Road, North Avondale.
Stay connected with CityBeat. Subscribe to our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google News, Apple News and Reddit.
Send CityBeat a news or story tip or submit a calendar event.
