Report: Many problems on deadly stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard

A pedestrian road safety audit that looked at a deadly stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard was made public this week.  The report finds multiple problems along the corridor from the Ridge Lea/Koenig Road intersections north to the East Robinson Road intersection.

Among the issues highlighted; there aren't enough crosswalks or crossing signals, the street is too dark at night, the road is too wide for pedestrians to cross safely, too many driveways and on/off ramps.

Six people have been killed in this area of Niagara Falls Boulevard within a 5-year period.  The most recent car/pedestrian fatality occurred on May 11, 2018 north of Greenhaven Terrace.

Amherst and Tonawanda worked together to create the report.

The safety audit was done in June and concluded:
"Low profile development patterns along the corridor over the past few decades have not complemented available transportation features which have been primarily design to accommodate the movement of motorized traffic. Auto dependent commercial businesses has not encouraged safe and efficient pedestrian activity. Limited pedestrian activity is further diminished by lack of supporting pedestrian design elements such as pedestrian refuge, vegetative buffering, shorter crossing distances, pedestrian friendly businesses, infrequent and uncoordinated street crossing points."

The question now is what will be done to correct the problems?

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly will be looking into this issue and have a report tonight at 5 & 6.

Have a news tip, question or comment?