From: Hannah Green
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Pedestrian Safety on Buena Vista - input for October 6 meeting Date: Friday, October 2, 2026 1:06:31 PM
Dear Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Pryor, and Members of the City Council, As the Council considers potential changes to truck routing on October 6, I urge you to evaluate pedestrian and bicycle safety on Buena Vista Avenue before advancing any alternative route.
The review should examine Maya Lin school travel patterns, access to Jean Sweeney Park and the future aquatic center, collision history, and conditions at key crossings along the corridor. The findings should be shared publicly, and any necessary safety improvements should be identified before a truck-route change is approved.
As a Maya Lin parent, I cross Buena Vista at Chapin Street with my children almost every day. It is one of the most concerning intersections on our route and unsafe for bicycles and children crossing. Visibility is limited, traffic often moves too quickly, and drivers do not always yield to pedestrians. Residents - including myself and my children - have raised concerns about safety in this area for years, yet meaningful improvements have not followed.
The neighborhood is becoming increasingly active. The new connection between Wood Street and Jean Sweeney Park has increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and the future aquatic center will bring even more families to the area. The transportation network should reflect these changes and provide safe access to these community resources.
In addition, Maya Lin encourages walking and biking because on-site parking is limited. Any analysis of Buena Vista Avenue should account for the significant number of students and families traveling to and from school each day from the northern side of Buena Vista.
I encourage the Council to direct staff to review conditions at crossings in the mornings from Sherman to Ninth St, including at Wood Street and Chapin Street, and to examine prior community input and collision data. Potential improvements could include crosswalks, traffic-calming measures and improved signage or signals. Community members who regularly use these routes should be part of this process.
Children should be able to walk and bike to school safely, and residents should be able to access parks and other community facilities without unnecessary risk. I hope these safety considerations will be a central part of the October 6 discussion.
Sincerely,
Hannah Green
Maya Lin parent and Alameda resident
From: Darcy McGrath
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Buena Vista school crossing
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026 12:43:20 PM
Hello,
My children cross Buena Vista every weekday on their commute to school at Maya Lin Elementary school. They cross Buena Vista at St. Charles street. My son was almost hit today by a speeding driver. I would like to advocate for flashing lights for safer crossing. I oppose Buena Vista becoming a truck route.
Please value our children’s lives and make crossing Buena Vista as safe as possible.
Thank you,
Darcy McGrath
215-589-3256