A busy intersection near schools and businesses has received safety-focused upgrades, with new enhancements designed to protect pedestrians and improve driver visibility.
At 49th Street and Broadway, the City’s Department of Public Works has installed protected left-turn signals—a green arrow that transitions to a flashing yellow arrow, allowing drivers to yield safely after the protected phase. This new signal configuration separates left turning vehicles from pedestrian crossings, reducing potential conflicts and improving safety for all users.
The changes come after collaboration with Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra and feedback from the community including local student, Lucas van Houtryve, who expressed concerns about turning movements and pedestrian safety at the busy crossing.
“It’s young people like Lucas who make a change. He saw the danger his classmates faced and took action by calling his local representative,” said Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra. “I am grateful for Lucas’ initiative and our shared commitment to making our city streets safer for walkers, bikers, and drivers.”
What’s New
The improvements, totaling approximately $140,000, were funded by the City’s Active Transportation Safety Program and tailored to the specific characteristics of the intersection. Key upgrades include:
- Protected and permitted left-turn phasing, separate from the conflicting pedestrian phase
- Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), which gives pedestrians a few seconds of priority crossing time before vehicles receive a green light
- Upgraded signage, including previously installed yield signs
According to city traffic engineers, 49th and Broadway was an ideal candidate for these treatments due to its existing signal infrastructure and intersection striping. However, they emphasized that similar improvements may not be feasible at other narrower intersections, without preexisting turn pockets and signal poles.
“This location provided the right set of conditions to make meaningful safety changes quickly,” said City Traffic Engineer Megan Carter. “We’re always looking for opportunities like this to implement proven safety solutions, but not every intersection has the same constraints or needs.”
“I would like to thank Mayor Pro Tem Guerra for his help in bringing this project to fruition,” said Lucas. “Together, we are working to keep our community safer and promote active transportation.”