Fatal crash at 19th and Lombard Center City prompts calls for traffic reforms

An urgent call today for better safety conditions along a bustling corridor in Center City. They say 19th and Lombard streets can be unsafe, whether you're behind the wheel or on foot. So, Greg, now local leaders are stepping in. What are they doing? Yeah, so, I mean, after the situation, Sheba, the unfortunate situation that happened with Zoe Shem right on the corner of 19th and Lombard, Jamie Gaudier, the council member, she actually had said that she wants more improvements to not only stretches here, but just in general. But this is a very active intersection here. As you can see, there's a large amount of people that are walking here. There's a large amount of vehicles. And look, you can even see there's ride share bikes. So there's a lot of activity that's going on here. And those living right at this area want to see some change, some safety changes. It's a busy stretch of Center City that many cyclists dread. 19th and Lombard. Lombard's one of the streets I'm most afraid to bike up because everyone's changing lanes. They're not looking for pedestrians or people on bikes or whatever scooters whatever. Christine Collins says she often avoids riding on Lombard and only travels it to visit family but when she does her bike is not in the street. I'm kind of in general known for terrorizing pedestrians on sidewalks because I'm so afraid of biking in the street. I always got to be careful like the cars are always speeding and even if they'll have a red light or something like they might not even fully stop or I'll be in the crosswalk stopped waiting and they'll like come right inches up to you it's like I could still probably get hit if you know they didn't stop quick enough everyone's always speeding here. It's not only a concern for cyclists residents say the area is known for vehicle accidents something that was brought up on the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood Facebook page recently someone posted a picture of an accident that occurred this week, stating another accident at 19th and Lombard just now. What else has to happen for traffic slowing systems on Lombard to get put in place? This is beyond frustrating. Sadly, a memorial sits at the intersection for 26-year-old Zoe Shem, a teacher at Belmont Charter in Mantua. Back in September, Shem was hit and killed by a car at the intersection as she was crossing Lombard to catch a bus. That has made us really conscientious while we've been walking in our stroller with our baby, right? Looking left and right, not even trusting a green or a go. Kayvon Formierzai lives right on Lombard. He loves the city and the improvements done to the area. But him, along with others, believe something more needs to be done to slow drivers down, including cameras. Listen, technology can help. helps with public safety, helps with, you know, traffic control. So I think those are things that that should definitely be looked into. How much more can we do? Like what? Put more speed bumps in or I don't know. But if there is a solution, it'd be nice because I'm always running into something where it's like accidentally getting hit, not by choice. Yeah. And Sheba, those on 19th and Lombard, this area, they're the ones that are complaining specifically about this section here. But it does sound based on the people that we spoke with, Lombard in general is a very fast driving street. Some even called it Lombard Expressway. So hopefully there is some change that is put in place eventually, because there's a lot of folks that are concerned about this. Yeah, totally agree. I've driven that stretch and it is a bit dicey just as a driver here. All right. Thank you very much, Greg.