I am the parent of children who walk to school every day, crossing over a dangerous intersection at Nebraska and 31st Street NW.  This intersection is where 4 busy streets meet - Nebraska Avenue with 31st St, 32nd Street and Morrison Street NW. 

Countless children traverse this complex and hazardous five-street intersection daily on their way to schools like Lafayette Elementary and the Broad Branch Children's House. Yet, despite the high volume of child pedestrians, cars continuously speed dangerously in Nebraska without slowing down. Efforts to improve safety, such as the introduction of a crosswalk sign with blinking lights, have been unsuccessful, remaining largely ignored by drivers. 

Statistics reveal that 30% of child pedestrian fatalities occur between 3 and 7 pm, the time frame during most children walk home after school (Safe Kids Worldwide, 2020). In an intersection as complicated as ours, where four streets meet and where vehicles do not respect speed limits, the danger is bound to multiply.

As my kids grow older, we want our children to be independent, to be able to walk to school by themselves. However, this won’t be possible until the intersection at Nebraska and 31st Street is made safer for children. 

More visible signage, effective speed-reducing infrastructure, and perhaps a permanent crossing guard during school hours could be considered.

Please sign this petition and help us make change happen. Together, we can ensure a safer journey to school for all children in our neighborhood.