JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Advocates wanting to curb the number of pedestrians injured or killed in crashes in Jacksonville held a kick-off meeting Thursday.
The new group called Crosswalk Coalition met for the first time.
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They're working with the Mayor's Office, Department of Public Works, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the city's bicycle pedestrian coordinator.
The group said its initial focus is on seniors and students who have to cross the street daily.
"The only way we can hope to deal with that very negative statistic about being the third most dangerous city is to work both on the education of pedestrians and motorists, and provide a safe place where they can cross," said City Council member Lori Boyer. "If you know where you're supposed to cross and the car knows that it's supposed to yield in that location, hopefully our safety statistics will improve."
The group is discussing the location of crosswalks near senior living facilities, bus stops and schools. It is reviewing the types and costs of crosswalks.
The goal is to identify where they are most needed, as well as to identify other issues to educate pedestrians and motorists.