Every day in Arizona, five people are injured after being struck by vehicles, and behind the staggering statistic of 267 pedestrian deaths annually are countless families forever changed. It’s a grim reality that has sparked a bold move by the City of Phoenix to repaint thousands of crosswalks, but will it be enough to save lives?
Arizona holds the grim distinction of being one of the most perilous states for pedestrians, a fact underscored by data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Arizona Department of Transportation. In response, Phoenix is taking a proactive step by upgrading its crosswalks to enhance visibility and, ultimately, safety. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the plan has been unanimously approved, its implementation will span at least seven years, leaving many to wonder if it’s moving fast enough.
Of Phoenix’s 6,389 crosswalks, a staggering 91% are transverse line crosswalks—simple parallel white lines that often fade into obscurity, especially at busy intersections. Nicole Rodriguez, a driving force behind the Urban Phoenix Project, calls this a hazard for both drivers and pedestrians. Her citizen petition, which gained traction last May, highlights a critical issue: faded crosswalks lead to drivers stopping within them or failing to yield, while pedestrians avoid using them altogether. ‘This is unacceptable,’ Rodriguez asserts, pointing to the frequent encroachment by drivers.
The urgency of this issue hit home in July when 65-year-old Libby Goff was fatally struck while jogging in a crosswalk. ‘The crosswalk light was on, the light was green, and the car turning left didn’t see her,’ recounted her daughter, Chandra Goff. Now, Chandra is using her mother’s tragic story to advocate for change. ‘It doesn’t have to be this way,’ she says, emphasizing the need for systemic traffic improvements.
Phoenix’s Transportation Committee has greenlit a plan to convert over 5,000 crosswalks to the more visible ‘ladder-style’ design, which the U.S. Department of Transportation claims can reduce pedestrian crashes by 40%. Currently, only 9% of Phoenix’s crosswalks meet this safety standard. While Rodriguez applauds the move, she stresses, ‘All of these are actually inexpensive in the grand scheme, and we should never question what it takes to save a life.’
But this is the part most people miss: the conversion’s seven-year timeline. For families like the Goffs, every day counts. ‘I hope everyone doesn’t wait until a crash robs them of someone they love,’ Chandra pleads. ‘Support safer streets now.’
The initiative will increase Phoenix’s pavement marking budget, though exact costs are still being finalized. Yet, the bigger question remains: Is this effort moving fast enough to prevent the next tragedy? And what more can—or should—be done to accelerate these lifesaving changes? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think seven years is too long to wait for safer streets?
