Pedestrian Crossings to Be Added to Loop 288 at Kings Row and University Dr
Pedestrian signals are being added to Loop 288 at Kings Row and University Dr where none currently exist. There are no existing pedestrian crossings along Loop 288 between I-35 and McKinney St, forcing people traveling without a car to cross multiple lanes of high-speed traffic with no assistance or way to stop cross traffic. At least one person has been killed while attempting to walk across Loop 288 at Kings Row.
Red X indicates a Loop 288 intersection where no pedestrian crossing currently exists.
In 2017, Tamara Brewer was traveling on foot, headed eastbound on Kings Row. Because there is no pedestrian button or detection on Kings Row at Loop 288, Tamara could not trigger a green light for herself to cross Loop 288, forcing her to cross against the red light. Her attempt was unsuccessful. She was struck and killed by a passing motorist. Tamara was determined to be at fault for not yielding right-of-way to the driver.
Communities sometimes oppose pedestrian or bicycle infrastructure along or across busy, high-speed roadways due to concern that safe infrastructure might encourage people to walk, roll, or bike near the dangerous roadway. Rather than making the road safe enough for everyone to use, it is kept intentionally dangerous in an attempt to exclude anyone traveling outside of an automobile from using it to access their daily needs.
Much of Denton’s commercial development, medical centers, and employment centers are situated along wide, high-speed roadways that are designed to prioritize fast movement of automobiles above safe travel for all road users. People who cannot drive or afford a car must cross and travel along these dangerous roadways to access their daily needs despite whether cities choose to make it safer or keep it dangerous for them.
According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, U.S. pedestrian fatalities have increased more than 70 percent on arterial roadways between 2009-2018. The roads where the most pedestrians are killed typically have speed limits of 30 mph or higher, five or more lanes to cross, nearby commercial land uses, and are typically near low-income areas.
In Denton, between 2011-2021, all pedestrian fatalities have been along an arterial roadway with a speed limit of 30 mph or higher. A majority of these fatalities occurred on roads with four lanes or more, nearby commercial land uses, missing sidewalks, and non-existent, infrequent, or unsafe pedestrian crossings.
Location of pedestrian fatalities, 2011-2021 (Source: TxDOT CRIS Query Tool)
The installation of pedestrian crossings across Loop 288 at Kings Row and University is expected to begin in 2021 and be completed by the third quarter of 2022. Traffic lights at Loop 288 and E McKinney, which already have pedestrian crossings, are also being replaced as part of this project. Since 2011, one person has been killed at this intersection while attempting to cross on foot, indicating that a pedestrian signal alone is not enough to prevent future fatalities. Additional proven safety countermeasures are likely needed.
The total cost of all three intersection projects is expected to be $768,552, with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) paying $580,187 and the City of Denton paying $188,365.
On Tuesday, August 10th, the Denton City Council will consider approval of additional funding to pay the full $188,365 needed from the city to complete the projects.
Further Reading:
Pedestrian Safety on Arterial Streets (Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center)
Dangerous by Design 2021 (Smart Growth America)
Examining the Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities in the United States, 2009-2018 (AAA)
Proven Safety Countermeasures (Office of Safety, Federal Highway Administration)
