A tragic automobile accident on Broadway and 251st Street recently that left one woman dead and one in the hospital impelled Councilman Oliver Koppell to write to Constance Moran,Bronx Borough Commissioner, Department of Transportation, (DOT) demandingthat the(DOT)conduct a traffic study in the area to determine the safety devices needed to reduce speeding and accidents.A copy of the letter was sent to Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner, Department of Transportation.
“This is a poorly lit stretch of roadway,” Koppell said, “with no traffic signals or crosswalks to slow down traffic or facilitate safe pedestrian crossing.”
Residents of the area have elicited Koppell’s support for a petition campaign to impress on the DOT the urgency of the situation.One resident said, “You can hear cars speeding along that stretch of road every night.”Another, Janette Sanchez, reported that a speeding vehicle crashed into her parked car on Broadway.She is constantly fearful that children who cross Broadway from Van Cortlandt Park will be hit by reckless motorists.
In addition, residents said that people waiting at the bus stop at 246th Street are in danger of being hit by cars traveling along Broadway at record speeds.
“We do not want to wait for another fatality before safety devices are installed at this dangerous location..I am urging the DOT to act immediately to inspect the area and take the necessary steps to ensure greater safety for both pedestrians and motorists,” Koppell said.
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