Phoenix Faces $33 Million Bill to Improve Crosswalk Safety

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High-visibility crosswalks designed to improve pedestrian safety in Phoenix.

News Summary

Phoenix is seeking to allocate over $33 million to enhance crosswalk safety at signalized intersections and stop signs due to rising pedestrian and traffic fatalities. The initiative stems from alarming trends showing a significant percentage of fatal collisions involve vulnerable road users. Advocacy for high-visibility crosswalks and stop bars has intensified, especially following recent accidents highlighting the dire need for improved safety measures. Officials are now urged to collaborate more effectively with safety committees to devise a comprehensive implementation plan for these improvements.

Phoenix Faces $33 Million Bill to Improve Crosswalk Safety Amid Rising Pedestrian Crashes

Phoenix is grappling with a significant safety challenge as city officials estimate that over $33 million is necessary to install high-visibility crosswalks and stop bars at all signalized intersections and stop signs. This proposal comes amid a worrying trend of increasing pedestrian and traffic-related fatalities in the city.

As of June 29, 2025, Phoenix is experiencing a sweltering high temperature of 112°F, prompting many residents to be more vigilant about their safety on the roads. According to a recent survey by the City of Phoenix, the city lags behind other municipalities in the Valley regarding the installation of stop bars at traffic signals. Currently, no Valley city has implemented high-visibility crosswalk bars at signalized intersections, raising concerns about pedestrian safety.

Ed Hermes, the chairman of the Vision Zero Street Safety Advisory Committee, has emphasized the alarming increase in traffic deaths, noting that 65% of fatal collisions involve vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. A staggering 40% of serious injuries and deaths occur at signalized intersections, calling for immediate action to enhance road safety.

In response to growing safety concerns, a citizen petition has been initiated to demand the installation of high-visibility crosswalks at 1,200 signalized intersections and the addition of stop bars at 100,000 stop signs throughout Phoenix. High-visibility crosswalk markings feature ladder-like stripes designed to make them more noticeable to drivers, while stop bars are broad white lines that indicate where drivers must stop before entering a crosswalk.

Since 2020, the city has begun to address some of these safety issues by installing high-visibility crosswalk markings mid-block on major roads, achieving upgrades at 30% of the crossings thus far. However, the projected costs to satisfy the demands of the petition range widely; high-visibility crosswalks would cost between $3,000 and $6,000 each, while installations at signalized intersections would cost approximately $28,000.

A memo from the city indicated that while there have been past installations of stop bars, they reportedly provide minimal safety benefits. Research conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2020 found no significant influence of stop lines on crash rates, which raises questions about their effectiveness in improving pedestrian safety.

The Phoenix Street Transportation Department has acknowledged its financial constraints in implementing these crucial visibility enhancements. Councilwoman Kesha Hodge-Washington has advocated for the inclusion of the Vision Zero committee in future evaluations of crosswalk and stop bar installations, as well as requesting a timeline for completing the remaining 70% of mid-block crosswalk markings.

Moreover, Councilwoman Laura Pastor has criticized the department for its lack of collaboration with the Vision Zero safety advisory committee, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety over budgetary concerns. To address these issues, the committee has directed the Street Transportation Department to create a comprehensive five-year plan detailing implementation strategies, which is expected to be submitted by October.

An urgent reminder of the need for improved crosswalk safety measures emerged from a recent hit-and-run incident involving a man in a wheelchair. The victim’s mother expressed her growing concerns about pedestrian safety following her family’s experiences with pedestrian-related accidents. This incident highlights the pressing need for enhanced crosswalk visibility and other protective measures for vulnerable road users.

Residents in Phoenix are encouraged to engage with local authorities by requesting traffic or pedestrian safety studies for specific intersections through the Streets Department. With rising concerns over safety conditions and increasing pedestrian-related incidents, action is paramount to protect all road users.