Philly may put traffic light back on Boulevard at site of fatal accident

After last week’s accident that killed a mother and three kids trying to cross Roosevelt Boulevard, the Philadelphia Streets Department is considering reinstalling a traffic signal at that spot.

If put back in, the signal would halt traffic in the middle of the block.

Samara Banks and three of her children were struck and killed by a car that allegedly was drag racing on the Roosevelt Boulevard near Second Street.

Acting Streets Commissioner David Perri says his department is going to study that location to see if a light needs to be put back in.

“Until the mid 1970s Second Street actually crossed the Boulevard, in the mid-1970s the intersection was eliminated but the signalized pedestrian crossing remained. The signalized pedestrian crossing however was eliminated in 1983 because of lack of use and because the equipment was vandalized,” said Perri.

Perri says the study will take a few months.

“We’ll look at things such as proximity to schools, destinations for pedestrians. We believe there is a higher use now of SEPTA in the area so it could very well warrant a signalization of a pedestrian crossing at Second Street.”

Perri says the signal could be installed by next Spring.