An enhanced crosswalk is planned at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Midland Avenue. However, some University of Memphis urban planning students believe the project will not go far enough to protect pedestrians.
The proposed crosswalk will include new pavement markings and a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB), which uses flashing yellow lights to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing.
The project is a collaboration between the City of Memphis and the University of Memphis. Planning and design for the crosswalk have been completed, but construction is on hold until a state grant is received.
“A grant for pedestrian safety on campus has been approved by the state legislature,” said Phillip Poteet, chief university planning officer at UofM. “We will get on this as quickly as we can.”
The plan follows months of student concern after The Daily Helmsman reported on near-misses between vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection. Still, some urban planning students say the enhanced crosswalk will not improve student safety.
“Why is there no crosswalk on the north side?” asked Kelsey Huse, a UofM graduate in city and regional planning. “That’s a huge problem. It’s the same issue at Range Line Road and Whitney, where I interviewed a mother whose child was struck.”
Huse is not the only one with concerns.
“While the RRFB will make pedestrians more noticeable and alert drivers, I don’t think it fully solves the safety issue at Patterson and Midland,” said Kristin Jenkins, an urban studies student. “Visibility isn’t the only issue, it’s also speed.”
“The blinking lights are a good step toward awareness, but they don’t effectively slow traffic,” she said. “Speed bumps or raised crosswalks would make more of a difference in helping drivers slow down and pedestrians feel safer. Overall, it’s progress, but it still feels like a driver-first and walker-second mentality.”
Currently, the nearest signalized intersection to Patterson and Midland is about 500 feet away at Patterson and Mynders Avenue, roughly a three-minute walk. That crossing also features an RRFB signal, which pedestrians can activate by pressing a button before crossing once drivers have stopped.
Mel Eleftheriou can be contacted at mlfthrou@memphis.edu
