Fairhope, Alabama
CITIZEN INJURED RECENTLY
After hearing from another citizen about traffic safety concerns, the city council authorized spending up to $29K for design of new safety enhancements in the downtown area.
Hollie MacKellar told the council she had been hit and seriously injured by a car in early November and six children (two of her own) narrowly escaped injury as well.
MacKellar: "Its important for you all make it safe out there for our children ... to ride bikes ... cross streets ... for everyone to b able to walk and not get hit."
MacKellar had to be life-flighted out after the accident but is doing better now.
She told the Times later the driver who was speeding and under the influence of "something" was arrested.
LIGHTED CROSSWALK PROPOSED FOR SECTION STREET
One of the proposals is a new pedestrian crosswalk across Section Street at the Police Station, using in-pavement LED lights.
Other improvements along Section Street are "bulb-out" planters at De La Mare Street and cobbled center lane safety strips from Fairhope Avenue south to Johnson Street; pedestrian crossing signals are planned at the Fairhope Avenue intersection as well.
Unspecified "traffic calming" measures are planned for Fairhope Avenue at the post office and appropriate wayfinding signage installed throughout; all improvements will be ADA compliant.
NEW POLICE CHIEF'S IDEAS
Interim Police Chief Hollinghead says she has some new ideas too, including adding more traffic patrols, but is waiting to see if she is made permanent chief by the council before beginning to implement them.
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| Proposed new LED crosswalk |
CITIZEN INJURED RECENTLY
After hearing from another citizen about traffic safety concerns, the city council authorized spending up to $29K for design of new safety enhancements in the downtown area.
 |
| MacKellar addressing council |
Hollie MacKellar told the council she had been hit and seriously injured by a car in early November and six children (two of her own) narrowly escaped injury as well.
MacKellar: "Its important for you all make it safe out there for our children ... to ride bikes ... cross streets ... for everyone to b able to walk and not get hit."
MacKellar had to be life-flighted out after the accident but is doing better now.
She told the Times later the driver who was speeding and under the influence of "something" was arrested.
LIGHTED CROSSWALK PROPOSED FOR SECTION STREET
One of the proposals is a new pedestrian crosswalk across Section Street at the Police Station, using in-pavement LED lights.
Other improvements along Section Street are "bulb-out" planters at De La Mare Street and cobbled center lane safety strips from Fairhope Avenue south to Johnson Street; pedestrian crossing signals are planned at the Fairhope Avenue intersection as well.
Unspecified "traffic calming" measures are planned for Fairhope Avenue at the post office and appropriate wayfinding signage installed throughout; all improvements will be ADA compliant.
NEW POLICE CHIEF'S IDEAS
Interim Police Chief Hollinghead says she has some new ideas too, including adding more traffic patrols, but is waiting to see if she is made permanent chief by the council before beginning to implement them.
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| cobbled center lane |
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| bulb out planters |
Comments
It would be wonderful if the FH police could find officers to post on Fels, White, etc sometimes. No one stops at lights ever and the speeding is dangerous. I hope that the
Mayor warns those driving city trucks that they should stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are crossing; I was almost hit with my dog a few months ago crossing Fels when a COF truck almost killed us. He didn't even slow down.
Their supposed to be more safe.
What there is downtown is a lack of understanding of basic traffic rules (i.e. red means stop and green means go) and distracted driving by Fairhope Barbie & Ken on their phones. Let's not make this problem more complicated than it is.
Someone gets hit and killed by a distracted driver.
Someone gets hit and killed by a color blind person.
Lots of people driving carts under 90.
Lots of people driving with dogs in their laps.
The problem is attitude, its all about me, I'm special, its the new Fhope mindset.
Now lets not set the Press effect here, but the largest issue it the reduced lane size of streets, absolutely NO AVAILABLE parking.This restricts PD to limited patrols as we'll as capability to enforce..Lets reintroduce a WALKING patrol to enforce the two hour parking rule.Set a system of deliveries of large trucks to certain times if possible, or tort some type of delivery system to accommodate the stores and vendors down town.Issue warning or citations to landscapers who refuse to use orange cones to ask for a short work parkas they consistently block areas, sometimes with attitudes.A few more stop signs in areas such as Mershon street, at Johnson and Belangy,as well as Brown and Johnson.Full light with trips at Ingleside and Fairhope Ave.Right turn only at Way greens exit north.Enforce the construction contractors and subcontracts to use PROPER SIGNAGE with regard to life and safety.