The City of Grand Junction and Colorado Mesa University (CMU) are working together to continue to create a safer pedestrian and traffic environment around the university’s campus. Providing safe routes for pedestrians is important for the City when developing an integrated and connected multimodal transportation network. Pedestrian safety at crossings is especially important in high foot trafficked areas. To increase awareness of the pedestrian crossings, the City of Grand Junction has partnered with CMU on additional safety elements on 12th Street near campus. Safety improvements include reduced speed limits from 35 mph to 30 mph and trimming of trees for better visibility.
“Every year, we evaluate campus safety and one of the ways we do that is by walking campus with students, faculty and staff to see if any additional safety measures should be implemented," said President John Marshall. "Improving pedestrian safety on 12th Street has been top of mind for us and many in our community. We appreciate the City of Grand Junction for being proactive and stepping up with solutions. It’s always incredible to see what can happen when we collaborate on a common goal.” City Manager Greg Caton added, “CMU is a wonderful community partner. We appreciate being able to come together on a solution for our community. The improvements will result in changes that are not only beneficial for CMU students but to all residents and visitors.”
Message boards will be set up on 12th Street on Friday, January 14 to notice the pending speed limit reduction. New signs will be installed on Friday, January 21.
As a reminder, pedestrians should always cross streets at marked crosswalks and observe relevant traffic signals for a particular intersection. Be alert, seen, and smart. Avoid cell phone use when walking in congested areas or crossing busy streets. If walking at night, pedestrians should wear bright colors and walk in well-lit areas when possible. Motorists should exercise caution for pedestrians and always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.