Opinion: Why pedestrian safety isn’t as simple as A or B

Ever since the horrific car crash on Frazier Avenue last November that took the lives of a mother and child, Chattanooga has been grappling with how to prevent another tragedy. It’s not the most desirable thing to be a city known as a place where people worry about safety while walking on a downtown street.

Now, after several months of study and surveys, it looks as if city officials are close to a resolution. The city has two options to reconfigure the popular North Chattanooga street and create a more pedestrian-safe area.

Both proposed redesigns of Frazier Avenue address concerns that have been voiced about the dangers of traveling on the road, which is lined by restaurants, small businesses and apartments and is a popular tourist area with access to Coolidge Park and the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge.

Both options will reduce the four-lane roadway to one lane either way with a turning lane in the middle.