After physics graduate student Abhishek Singh was apparently killed in a two-vehicle accident while walking on the Richland Avenue Bridge, students from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio University are urging change on the bridge and at the Richland Avenue and Ohio Route 682 intersection.
Six graduate students are working to create a petition for pedestrian safety to present to Athens City Council on Monday, said Kellen Murphy, a spokesman for the group.
About 30 graduate students from the Physics and Astronomy Department met on Tuesday to discuss what kinds of changes could be made at the Richland Avenue and state Route 682 intersection, Murphy said.
Basically anything we could think of to improve pedestrian safety
we wrote down he said.
The group plans to take petitions to academic departments and possibly set up a table in Baker University Center. They would like to obtain as many signatures as possible, Murphy said.
We're not setting a mandatory number but we want to get a lot
he said.
According to Stephanie Filson of the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10, the Richland Avenue and Route 682 intersection was ranked the 78th most dangerous intersection in Ohio in 2003.
The physics students propose that the city of Athens put speed bumps on Richland Avenue and install traffic light cameras at the intersection.
Additionally, they would like to reduce the speed limit on Route 682 as it approaches the intersection, Murphy said. The speed limit on Route 682 is 55 mph.
The group recommends walk-only signals at the intersection to stop traffic and allow pedestrians to cross. Fencing and guardrails on the bridge could also improve pedestrian safety, Murphy added.
Public transportation could have more bus stops for people who live off campus and regularly cross at the intersection, Murphy said.
The Athens Transit has a Richland Avenue route, but the only designated bus stop for Athens Transit buses is in front of the Athens City Parking Garage, said Melissa Knight, administrative assistant at the mayor's office. People have to hail the bus as it runs its route if they want to ride.
Councilwoman Amy Flowers, D-at large, said a Richland Avenue, Route 682 design project advisory board will consider about 18 proposals for changes at the intersection from different design firms.
There is going to be something that changes at that intersection
Flowers said.
Athens applied for and received federal safety funding of $1.275 million to reconstruct Richland Avenue Bridge and $1.4 million for reconstruction of the intersection, Filson said.
The federal grant will cover 80 percent of construction costs and the city will cover the remaining 20 percent, said Ray Hazlett, Athens Service-Safety Director.
Receiving the competitive funding demonstrates that the project is a state-wide priority, Filson said.
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