City updates crosswalk where 2 died, will work to fix more intersections
Officials say they have found 12 priority spots to help with wheelchair ramps, striping, signs
In keeping with support for “Vision Zero” road safety goals, city officials on Monday activated a new pedestrian beacon and other enhancements near the spot where a man in a wheelchair and a woman who tried to assist him were struck and killed last March.
The “hybrid” beacon at North Shepherd and West 10th in the Heights area will flash red when activated by people who want to cross the street, and the crosswalk now has updated striping. The updates also included new traffic signs and the removal of a driveway to make wheelchair ramps more accessible. Additionally, the city removed a Metro bus stop on North Shepherd at West 7th.
The announcement follows pledges by city officials to act quickly after 63-year-old Jesus Perez and 55-year-old Lesha Adams were fatally struck March 30 by a driver who fled the scene and returned 30 minutes later.
“Just because we upgraded this intersection does not mean we will forget Lesha Adams and Jesus Perez, and I’m glad that relatives of the good-hearted, innocent victims are here with us today and we continue to grieve with each and every one of you,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said at Monday’s event.
Turner said the city intends to embrace Vision Zero, a program which seeks “to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries,” according to its website. In a proclamation recognizing Adams’ contributions to the community, Turner proclaimed June 10, 2019, as “Lesha Adams Day” in Houston.
Public Works Director Carol Haddock said the city had identified 12 priority intersections it was working to update. Short-term improvements such as fixing wheelchair ramps, updating striping and signs and removing obstructions to vision have been completed. The city will also hire a safe streets coordinator, Haddock said.
Maria Town, director of the Mayor’s Office for People With Disabilities, said her office had worked to streamline the reporting process for sidewalk and intersection access barriers. Reports that formerly required three or four forms now involve just one, she said.
Town said the city hoped to highlight the voices of marginalized groups when making changes.
“For all of these plans, we also want to make sure that they center on our most vulnerable: people of color, those living in poverty,
those with disabilities, and not only think about those communities but make sure we have an active seat at the table,” she said.
Metro Chairwoman Carrin Patman said her team has continued to work on the transit agency’s universal accessibility initiative.
“We’ve committed almost $10 million to upgrade bus pads, shelters and sidewalks near bus stops, working with Carol Haddock and Public Works,” she said.
Police Chief Art Acevedo urged drivers to be careful, noting that 355 pedestrians and 35 bicyclists were killed from 2014 to 2018 in Houston.
“Every single (traffic fatality) can be prevented and so we stand with these families, we stand with you, Mayor, and we stand with this community to say that we will continue to aggressively enforce all of our traffic laws in the city of Houston and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure we don’t have to have events like this,” he said.
Dennis Perez, Jesus Perez’s brother, told reporters that the updates to the intersection brought him joy.
“It was great, it was long awaited for,” he said.
Adams’ sister, Teri Webb, said her sister would’ve been happy to know more lives could be saved through the updates to the intersection.
“It’s a beautiful thing, and I hope she’s looking down from heaven because she would be so proud,” Webb said. “She was a precious person who did anything and everything for everybody.”