Slower Speeds, Safer Streets: A Fresh Look at Anchorage's Traffic Woes

A City in Crisis

Anchorage is facing a serious issue. The number of pedestrian deaths has reached a record high, with 15 lives lost in the past year. This is a stark reminder that our city's roads are not safe for everyone. The idea of adding more dividers, like the one on Minnesota Drive, has been suggested. But is this really the best solution? It feels like a way to prioritize cars over people.

A Vision for a Safer Anchorage

Our city should be a place where everyone feels welcome and safe. To make this happen, one big change is needed: slowing down traffic. Traffic engineers around the world agree that designing roads to reduce speed is key to saving lives. Wide, straight, multi-lane roads are part of the problem, not the solution.

Learning from Winter

Think about Anchorage's snowy winters. When the outer lanes are closed due to snow, traffic naturally slows down. Everyone still gets to their destination, just a bit slower. What if we made this the norm? By reducing the number of lanes and adding protected bike and pedestrian paths, we could make our city safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Imagine kids walking or biking to school safely, or people being able to easily access local businesses.

Policy Changes Needed

But it's not just about road design. Speed limits should also be lowered. Setting a citywide limit of 35 mph, except on major highways, and reducing it to 20 mph in neighborhoods could make a big difference. The city should also use modern technology, like existing cameras, to enforce these limits.

A Call to Action

Many groups and leaders have been working on these issues for years, but progress has been slow. It's time for a change. The Alaska Department of Transportation and local leaders should focus on making our roads safer, not just wider or more car-friendly.