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REMARKS

Council Member Lincoln Restler concludes his questions with closing remarks

1:48:44

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Council Member Restler emphasizes the need for comprehensive tracking and goal-setting for lighting commercial corridors and improving pedestrian safety.

He argues the city does not have appropriate goals for properly lighting commercial corridors each year
Proper lighting can reduce traffic fatalities, improve economic activity, community safety, and walkability
He wants metrics and goals the Department of Transportation is held accountable to, beyond just responding to incidents
Restler is open to discussing specifics like lighting power, but prioritizing pedestrian spaces is key

Lincoln Restler

1:48:44

I mean, look, I guess what I would and I I'll shut up after this chair is I really appreciate that you all are trying to do a lot of good work and that you're recognizing there's some operational issues that need to be improved and we've talked about this at a previous hearing.

1:48:57

So I appreciate you underscoring that point again.

1:48:59

What I think our legislation gets at that's important is that we are not comprehensively tracking this information.

1:49:04

We're not setting appropriate goals for ourselves as a city and as a department of transportation.

1:49:08

For how many of our commercial corridors are being properly lit each and every year, and what the myriad benefit impacts are of that proper lighting of our sidewalk and intersects of that sidewalk space and intersections in terms of reducing traffic fatalities, in terms of improving economic activity, in terms of improving safety in our community, in terms of just making our neighbors feel a better walking in their community, it would make a big difference.

1:49:32

I, you know, I'm happy to to discuss and debate the exact rate, you know, the power of the lights and making sure that we legislate that appropriately.

1:49:41

But we should be prioritized improving pedestrian spaces much more than we do today and having North Star goals and metrics that we're holding ourselves to account to, not just responding when incidents are per, I think would be a better approach than where we are currently.

1:49:57

So appreciate the little bit extra time there, and thanks for answering the questions.

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Council Member Erik D. Bottcher opens his questions on news rack regulations and commemorates Lori Felsher, victim of traffic violence