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Study: Route 9A Dangerous for Pedestrians

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – The most dangerous stretch of road for pedestrians in Westchester County is Route 9A north of I-287 and south of the road's intersection with the Saw Mill Parkway, a recently-released study by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign revealed.

The study analyzed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality analysis reporting in the New Jersey, downstate New York and Connecticut region. It excluded interstates, highways and other roads where pedestrians are prohibited. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is a non-profit organization focused on “a more balanced, transit-friendly and equitable transportation system.”

The study found 1,267 pedestrian deaths between the years 2008 and 2010 across the region. The most dangerous road in the region is Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau County with 15 pedestrian deaths, according to the organization. This is the fourth time the turnpike has topped the list in pedestrian deaths.

In Westchester, the organization found 25 pedestrian deaths: 11 in 2008, nine in 2009 and five in 2010. Route 9A north of I-287 in the Town of Greenburgh saw three pedestrian deaths between 2008 and 2010.

The study found that roads with two or more lanes in both directions and speeds of 40 mph or higher were the most dangerous.

“These roads are not traditionally designed with pedestrians’ needs in mind, yet they run throughout the tri-state region, from parts of Manhattan’s Broadway to US-1 in Connecticut,” Renata Silberblatt, report author and staff analyst with the Campaign, said.

Kate Slevin, TSTC's executive director, suggests that adding pedestrian infrastructure such as crosswalks or sidewalk extensions can “save lives, promote health and contribute to local economies.”

Specific information on roads in other counties and states can be found on the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s website.

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