Pedestrian Safety Devices Need to Be Installed in Ann Arbor

The recent tragic death of pedestrian Menghua Tian, 70, of Ann Arbor, Michigan must draw the City of Ann Arbor's quick attention and spark action.  Ms. Tian was killed recently by a pick-up truck on Ann Arbor-Saline Road between Eisenhower and South Main.  The City's 2007 Non-motorized transportation plan called for a crosswalk near the place where Ms. Tian was recently hit and killed.  Five years after this plan's publication there is still no cross walk, pedestrian safety island, or High-Intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) system, or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) in place on Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Several years ago a pedestrian's death near U of M's North Campus on Plymouth Road sparked the City to install several RRFBs with pedestrian safety islands.    Additionally, the pedestrian death in August 2012 on Golfside Drive in Pittsfield Township should spark Pittsfield Township to make safety improvements on this well-known-dangerous road.  All these pedestrian deaths occurred on five-lane roads that lack safe pedestrian crossings between far-spaced stop-light intersections.  Safety developments that have already been tested in Ann Arbor, like RRFBs and HAWK systems, need to be installed as soon as possible to prevent any more tragic pedestrian deaths on these high-traffic-volume dangerous five-lane roads.