New Vision Zero Safety Measures Installed Around Pitt Campus

Upgrades seek to prevent fatal pedestrian crashes through better design and enforcement

In the heart of Pittsburgh’s university district, tragedy has driven change. After two pedestrians were killed within a year near the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, city officials, university leaders, and community advocates joined forces to reimagine safety in one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors. The effort marks one of the most visible applications of Pittsburgh’s Vision Zero initiative, a citywide commitment to eliminate traffic deaths through better design, smarter enforcement, and community collaboration.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) recently completed a targeted safety project across the upper Oakland area, particularly along Terrace Street and DeSoto Street, to make the streets surrounding the Pitt campus safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. While no infrastructure change can undo the loss of life, these upgrades represent meaningful progress toward reducing future pedestrian accidents and building a city that protects the people who walk its streets every day.

A focused response to fatal pedestrian accidents in Pittsburgh

Following the December 5 death of Jessie Maroney, a 37-year-old Pitt employee struck by a box truck while using a crosswalk, the city acted quickly. The area around Darragh Street and Terrace Street had already seen one fatality earlier that same year, and residents, students, and safety advocates demanded change. Within months, DOMI and its partners rolled out a package of low-cost improvements designed to increase visibility, slow traffic, and separate pedestrians and cyclists from vehicle lanes.

The $110,000 project stretched from Robinson Street to DeSoto Street and included several key upgrades:

• Widened and repainted crosswalks to make pedestrians more visible to approaching drivers.
• Clearly marked parking spaces to prevent vehicles from blocking sightlines near intersections and driveways.
• Flex posts and rubber curbs to restrict unsafe parking and create buffer zones along walkways.
• Protected bike lanes on both sides of DeSoto Street, offering a safer route for cyclists and reducing vehicle encroachment.
• “No turn on red” signs and extended pedestrian crossing times at intersections with high foot traffic.

These changes were based on a University of Pittsburgh–commissioned safety study and carried out through a collaboration between DOMI, UPMC, the university, West Oakland community groups, and student-led organizations. Together, these partners demonstrated how quickly and inexpensively engineering measures can have a lasting impact on pedestrian safety.

When engineering meets accountability

The upgrades near Pitt showcase how Vision Zero works in practice, a combination of data-driven design, community feedback, and public accountability. But even as these improvements take shape, officials acknowledge they are reactive, implemented after lives were lost. Vision Zero’s larger goal is prevention: building streets that anticipate human error instead of punishing it.

Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, a member of Pittsburgh’s Vision Zero fatal crash response team, noted that the program is also expanding proactive measures, including speed humps, curb extensions, and intersection redesigns in neighborhoods where children, students, and workers frequently walk. These steps align with a broader understanding shared by safety advocates and legal professionals that pedestrian deaths are rarely “accidents.” They are preventable outcomes of speeding, distraction, and failure to yield.

From a legal standpoint, these same principles apply when determining fault in pedestrian injury or wrongful death cases. When a driver fails to follow traffic laws or when a city neglects to correct a known safety hazard, the consequences can be devastating. Identifying who bears responsibility — whether a negligent driver, a delivery company, or a municipality — is essential to ensuring that victims and families receive justice and compensation.

Why quick fixes matter for public safety

Projects like the one in Oakland prove that meaningful change doesn’t always require massive infrastructure budgets. By focusing on low-cost, high-impact design solutions, Pittsburgh has shown that simple materials — like paint, flex posts, and better signage — can dramatically reduce risk. These tools can slow traffic, improve visibility, and guide drivers’ behavior without years of planning or millions in funding.

The success of these efforts depends on more than design alone. Sustained progress requires continued enforcement of traffic laws, public education, and ongoing maintenance of safety infrastructure. When cities fail to maintain these improvements or hold negligent drivers accountable, even the most thoughtfully designed systems can fall short. A Pittsburgh personal injury lawyer experienced in pedestrian cases can help ensure those responsible for unsafe conditions or reckless behavior face real consequences and that victims aren’t left to bear the burden alone.

A step toward safer streets in Pittsburgh

The Vision Zero upgrades near the Pitt campus are among the most high-profile pedestrian safety projects completed since the initiative began in March 2024. By combining community advocacy, expert input, and swift city action, the project has transformed one of Pittsburgh’s most dangerous corridors into a model for rapid safety improvement. The result is a more walkable, more predictable environment that protects students, employees, and residents alike.

Still, much work remains. Vision Zero’s mission — to eliminate all traffic deaths — demands that every driver, policymaker, and engineer recognize their shared responsibility for keeping people safe. When that responsibility is ignored, pedestrians pay the price.

Hit by a car? Contact a Pittsburgh pedestrian accident lawyer

Pedestrian injury cases often involve tight legal deadlines and complex investigations into driver behavior and roadway conditions. Anyone seriously hurt in a pedestrian crash should seek experienced legal representation immediately. Romanow Law Group has built a reputation for standing up for the injured and refusing to back down. Victims deserve more than apologies. They deserve accountability, compensation, and the chance to move forward after tragedy.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a Pittsburgh-area pedestrian accident, contact us now for a free consultation. A member of our team is available to hear from you 24/7. Let us help you get the justice and financial compensation you deserve.

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