Effective today, pedestrian activity at certain intersections will be limited to simply crossing the street. The goal of the Pedestrian and Traffic Safety ordinance is to improve public safety by reducing crashes related to distracted driving caused by pedestrians.
This ordinance applies to all pedestrians within the Topeka city limits at only those intersections identified in the ordinance.
Pedestrians are increasingly using highways and roadways in a manner for which the roads were not designed or intended. These uses include approaching vehicles when stopped or in use, or staying upon medians and in the public right-of-way for purposes other than crossing the highway or roadway. This type of activity distracts drivers, which makes automobile accidents more likely and creates safety hazards for pedestrians.
The following intersections were identified in the MTPO Metropolitan Transportation Safety Plan as ranking high across all emphasis areas (intersections; speed; distracted driving; pedestrian & bicyclist):
SE 15th Street and SE Adams
SE 21st Street and SE Adams Street
SW 6th Avenue and SW Gage Boulevard
SW 21st Street and SW Gage Boulevard
SW 29th Street and SW Gage Boulevard
SW Huntoon Street and SW Gage Boulevard
SW Huntoon Street and SW Fairlawn Road
SW 21st Street and SW Fairlawn Road
SW 29th Street and SW Fairlawn Road
SW 12th Street and SW Jackson Street
SW 10th Avenue and SW Lane Street
SW 6th Avenue and SW Orchard Street
SW 5th Street and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 6th Avenue and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 8th Avenue and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 10thAvenue and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 21st Street and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 29th Street and SW Topeka Boulevard
SW 21st Street and SW Wanamaker Road
SW 17th Street and SW Wanamaker Road
SW 21st Street and SW Washburn Avenue
SW 29th Street and SW Wanamaker Road
SW 17th Street and SW Westover Road and SW Oakley Street
Due to the high number of reported crashes involving pedestrians at these intersections, and the prevalence of distracted driving as a contributing factor in these crashes, certain activities will be restricted, as specified in section 10.80.030 of the ordinance.