TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 More sidewalks and other improvements are coming to South Meridian Street after The City of Tallahassee\u2019s Community Redevelopment Agency approved $5 million of funding unanimously Thursday.<\/p>\n
The CRA board approved $5 million Thursday to add sidewalks and other improvements to enhance pedestrian safety along South Meridian Street.The agency is currently in the design phase while construction is set to start in fall 2028 and be done in fall 2029.Watch the video to hear from how residents feel about the project.<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n
General Lee Mitchell III says he walks South Meridian Road every day.<\/p>\n
But he says it comes with risks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walk it day and night,\u201d Mitchell said. When the cars be coming up and down the road, it’s a great chance that somebody get hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Meridian Street Pedestrian and Street Safety project hopes to address that issue.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a $5 million project and could add half a mile of 6-foot sidewalks on both sides, a 10-foot multi-use path, trees and fill ditches.<\/p>\n
It will extend on South Meridian from East Orange Avenue to East Magnolia Drive.<\/p>\n
The City of Tallahassee\u2019s Community Redevelopment Agency<\/a> board approved the plan Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, people are having to navigate sidewalks on one side,\u201d Williams-Cox said.<\/p>\n CRA Board Chair Dianne Williams-Cox says the project is necessary as more families move in.<\/p>\n \u201cThe number of people who will be needing to transport up and down there is going to increase, and so, we’re trying to provide safe passage because we’re hoping that families with children will have those necessities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Pedestrian risks remain high as TPD says Tallahassee ranked as one of the top 10 cities in the state for traffic crashes involving pedestrians.<\/p>\n Fifteen pedestrians have been injured this year with two fatalities.<\/p>\n ABC 27 requested specific stats for accidents pedestrian involved accidents on South Meridian Road from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles<\/a>.<\/p>\n But haven\u2019t heard back yet.<\/p>\n The project fits in with other mobility improvements in the southside like the Blueprint Orange-Meridian Placemaking<\/a> or community park project and the city\u2019s Southside Transit Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe southside has needed these types of improvements for many, many years,\u201d Williams-Cox said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been representing for a long time, and to get this type of help, it means a lot,\u201d Mitchell said.<\/p>\n The project is still in the design phase.<\/p>\n Construction is scheduled to start in fall 2028 and be done in fall 2029.<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n