Strong Towns Fargo calls on city to address speeding, pedestrian safety

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Over a year ago, Deborah Hopper was struck while crossing this intersection. While there were no charges in this case, Strong Towns Fargo wants the city to provide safety for both pedestrians and bicyclists.

“The reason is if a vehicle hits a person at 20 mph the ability to live through that is much better than if they’re going 40. Now, is a person is going 45, the fatality rate is closer to 50 percent,” said Arlette Preston, Volunteer Coordinator for Strong Towns Fargo.

Former city commissioner Arlette Preston received many emails and phone calls from people concerned about speeding. Strong Towns decided to tackle the idea by conducting speed tests. They clocked 554 vehicles along 13th Ave. S. 295 vehicles were traveling 36-44 mph. Eight of them traveled more than 46 mph.

“We’re getting so many complaints from various areas of the city where speeding is happening and that’s University, 10th, 52nd Ave S, 25th St. I could go on and on and on,” said Preston.

The group wants the city to adjust the signal times for pedestrians to cross, provide better lighting, and reduce the number of traffic lanes from six to four or less.

“Yes we all make mistakes, but to try to safeguard people from taking actions that might endanger their lives, fix the pedestrian signals,” said Preston.

Preston also wanted to note:

“We want to be able to use this as an example for how we can improve the roads so that something like this fatality does not happen again.”

The group plans to meet with a city engineer to go over recommendations in November.