Busy Pittsburgh intersection to get major safety improvements

Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure plans to spend more than $800,000 in state grant funding to improve safety at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and North Dithridge Street in North Oakland. “There’s no walk lights. So, especially I see that, and I’m like, oh, am I supposed to walk, am I not? And I feel unsafe when I’m walking because I could get hit, you know? So it’s scary,” Ryan Marini said.Many pedestrians say they often take risks just to get across.“We kind of just go when we want to and hope nobody hits us,” said Alexis Helsel.“Our roads need to be safe for everyone, whether you’re on the sidewalk, in a car, on a bike, or on a bus,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor in a release. “Thanks to DOMI and PennDOT, the upgrades at Fifth and Dithridge will support our commitment to designing streets and intersections in a way that reduces the potential for crashes and injuries.” The grant money comes from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Grant Program, which funds road safety projects with money from red light violation fines. The intersection has seen multiple crashes and close calls over the years, including a 2020 incident in which a 94-year-old woman was hit by an ACCESS bus.“I think that cars don’t stop here as often as they should for pedestrians, so I think any improvement would be a good improvement,” said Leena Nahlawi.Planned upgrades include LED street lighting, larger traffic signals for drivers, concrete bump-outs to shorten crossing distances, and countdown pedestrian signals with audible alerts.“I think that’s lovely. They just did that by Hillman, and it was really nice. It has a four-way cross, and it yells at us when we walk, and it’s perfect,” said Asha Vellody.“The weather’s getting warmer, everyone’s walking more, too. And that’s like a big thing. In fact, these are such busy streets for the students. So I think 100% could save lives,” said Aletha Gajula.Pedestrians told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they are grateful for the improvements and hope similar changes are made across Oakland. The City said that it is on the way. “This award is a perfect testament to the ARLE program’s impact on mobility and street safety,” said City Councilperson Erika Strassburger in a release. “I am thrilled and grateful for the state’s contribution to the overhaul of this critical intersection in my district. I’m also proud to have helped bring ARLE to Pittsburgh, where we will implement the technology at high-risk corridors later this year and use the fine proceeds to fund more investments in life-saving projects.”

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure plans to spend more than $800,000 in state grant funding to improve safety at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and North Dithridge Street in North Oakland.

“There’s no walk lights. So, especially I see that, and I’m like, oh, am I supposed to walk, am I not? And I feel unsafe when I’m walking because I could get hit, you know? So it’s scary,” Ryan Marini said.

Many pedestrians say they often take risks just to get across.

“We kind of just go when we want to and hope nobody hits us,” said Alexis Helsel.

“Our roads need to be safe for everyone, whether you’re on the sidewalk, in a car, on a bike, or on a bus,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor in a release. “Thanks to DOMI and PennDOT, the upgrades at Fifth and Dithridge will support our commitment to designing streets and intersections in a way that reduces the potential for crashes and injuries.”

The grant money comes from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Grant Program, which funds road safety projects with money from red light violation fines. The intersection has seen multiple crashes and close calls over the years, including a 2020 incident in which a 94-year-old woman was hit by an ACCESS bus.

“I think that cars don’t stop here as often as they should for pedestrians, so I think any improvement would be a good improvement,” said Leena Nahlawi.

Planned upgrades include LED street lighting, larger traffic signals for drivers, concrete bump-outs to shorten crossing distances, and countdown pedestrian signals with audible alerts.

“I think that’s lovely. They just did that by Hillman, and it was really nice. It has a four-way cross, and it yells at us when we walk, and it’s perfect,” said Asha Vellody.

“The weather’s getting warmer, everyone’s walking more, too. And that’s like a big thing. In fact, these are such busy streets for the students. So I think 100% could save lives,” said Aletha Gajula.

Pedestrians told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they are grateful for the improvements and hope similar changes are made across Oakland. The City said that it is on the way.

“This award is a perfect testament to the ARLE program’s impact on mobility and street safety,” said City Councilperson Erika Strassburger in a release. “I am thrilled and grateful for the state’s contribution to the overhaul of this critical intersection in my district. I’m also proud to have helped bring ARLE to Pittsburgh, where we will implement the technology at high-risk corridors later this year and use the fine proceeds to fund more investments in life-saving projects.”