New Orleans streets are tough on pedestrians. The Inspector General has some suggestions for improving safety.
The New Orleans Inspector General’s Office is releasing a report today that finds the city has more than twice the rate of pedestrian injuries than Jefferson and East Baton Rouge parishes.
Spokesperson Becky Mowbray:
“New Orleans is a very, very dangerous place that in the past three years it led the state in pedestrian deaths.” :09
Why is that?
“Well, we don’t know exactly why that is," she said.
The IG’s office investigated that question last year. And it found traffic signals lacking.
“Only 13 percent of the intersections with traffic lights in New Orleans have pedestrian crossing signals,” Mowbray said.
The IG recommends the city’s Department of Public Works keep better track of signals that aren’t working, and install more of those that have timers, letting pedestrians know how much time is left to cross the intersection.
Mowbray says the city has several plans on hand that coordinate transportation services, and they should include upgrading safety.