Traffic safety and walkability have long been concerns of families living in the Beekman Corridor. With 44% of families in the corridor lacking access to a car and relying on public transportation, the need for pedestrian safety is crucial. The area has seen significant traffic violations, accounting for 32% of Cincinnati’s traffic citations in 2023, and tragically, there have been three fatal accidents in the past 12 months, two involving pedestrians.
Annette Barnes, a South Fairmount resident, expressed the community’s fears: “We can’t walk out our front door without taking our life into our hands. Our lives and our property are at risk.”
In response to these issues, Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) conducted a walkability study in South Cumminsville. Four years ago, WIN convened the City and neighborhood residents to develop a street calming plan for Beekman Street. The plan is now coming to fruition with ongoing construction work including water pipe replacements. Once completed, Beekman Street will feature various street calming measures such as speed humps, lane reductions, and shorter, more visible crosswalks.
Residents are happy to see progress but believe more work is needed throughout the corridor. New traffic improvements are being spearheaded by the Beekman Corridor Coalition, a group organized by WIN that brings together residents from South Cumminsville, Millvale, North Fairmount, South Fairmount, and English Woods. The Coalition’s Traffic Action Team has successfully advocated for safety improvements by developing relationships with city councilmembers and the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering.
Thanks to the Coalition’s efforts, Ethel M. Taylor Academy will have its first school crossing guard this fall. Additionally, the timing of several traffic lights in the corridor has been improved, and a dangerous left-turn lane at Queen City Avenue and White Street has been removed. The Coalition’s Traffic Action Team is working for additional improvements to residential streets to ensure safety for everyone. South Fairmount Community Council President Jim Casey emphasized the importance of collective action: “We believe in the power of working together. We are looking forward to making the Beekman Corridor a safe place for people to live, work, and play.”