Authorizing City Council's Committees on Public Safety and Streets and Services to hold joint public hearings to investigate the safety of Roosevelt Boulevard, including traffic engineering, law enforcement, the condition of street lighting, etc.; to inform and educate the public about the safety issues that plague the highway; and, to explore any and all feasible measures to make Roosevelt Boulevard a safe highway for all; and in furtherance of such investigation, authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

WHEREAS, The Roosevelt Boulevard, one of the most heavily traveled streets in our City, a stretch of 14 miles, 12 lanes wide at some points, with drivers chronically speeding, has a reputation for being a dangerous road; and, in fact, in 2001, State Farm Insurance named two intersections on Roosevelt Boulevard the second- and third-most dangerous in the nation; and

WHEREAS,

In recent weeks, there have been five extremely severe car accidents involving pedestrians, three of which involved fatalities; and

WHEREAS,

On September 26th, a 7-year-old boy was killed and his great grandmother was critically injured at Lott Avenue; and

WHEREAS, On October 10th, an 11-year-old boy was critically injured near 3rd Street;

and

WHEREAS,

On October 13th, a 30-year-old woman was killed near Wyoming Avenue;

and

WHEREAS, On October 16th, a 15-year-old girl was struck near Rhawn Street; she died the next day; and

WHEREAS, Most recently, on October 17th, a 64-year-old man was critically injured near Haldeman Avenue; and

WHEREAS,

Four of these accidents were at night, and, the Roosevelt Boulevard has experienced inoperative street lighting; and

WHEREAS,

The public should be informed through an educational program using the media, ads in the local newspapers, possibly increased posted warning signs, etc., reminding people about how dangerous Roosevelt Boulevard can be, especially, at night, when depth perception is adversely impacted, and, there is a higher probability of an encounter with a vehicle operated at a high rate of speed, etc.; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council’s Committees on Public Safety and Streets and Services are hereby authorized to hold joint public hearings to investigate the safety of Roosevelt Boulevard, including traffic engineering, law enforcement, the condition of street lighting, etc.; to inform and educate the public about the safety issues that plague the highway; and, to explore any and all feasible measures to make Roosevelt Boulevard a safe highway for all; and in furtherance of such investigation, authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

End