Hollywood explores safety upgrades for dangerous railroad crossing
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The intersection doesn't have any traffic lights. Photo: Naomi Feinstein/Axios
The City of Hollywood is exploring ways to improve safety and traffic flow at the Garfield Street railroad crossing following a fatal crash in June.
Why it matters: The family of Colt William Firth, a 24-year-old motorcyclist killed at North 21st Avenue and Garfield Street on June 25, has urged the city to install traffic lights and other safety measures at the intersection.
- Firth's family believes that a driver ran through the Garfield Street stop sign and fatally struck Firth as he traveled north on North 21st Avenue, according to CBS News Miami.
Catch up quick: A petition, launched by the family, has received more than 1,100 signatures.
- "No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one when improvements to road safety may help prevent future tragedies," the petition reads.
State of play: Axios visited the intersection last month and saw multiple cars rolling through the stop signs to see if it was safe to cross North 21st Avenue.
What they're saying: In response to the petition, Mayor Josh Levy wrote that the city is working with Broward County and Florida East Coast Railway to "determine what the best safety improvement options are for this intersection, since drivers continue to fail to follow the existing stop signs and rules of the road."
- Hollywood communications director Joann Hussey tells Axios that the city has requested federal funding for safety improvements to the Garfield Street railroad crossing.
- She says the funding would be used for a comprehensive planning study, traffic and railroad operations analyses and environmental and signal evaluation, among other measures.
The intrigue: Commissioner Adam Gruber, who says he uses the intersection often, tells Axios the biggest issue is a Brightline utility box that blocks drivers' line of sight at the intersection.
- "It's a disaster waiting to happen," he tells Axios.