Henrico Resident Advocates for Safer Streets After Recent Fatalities

A passionate plea for safer streets echoed through the Henrico County Board of Supervisors meeting as resident Kaye Carrithers, a registered nurse with nearly five decades in the community, addressed the board. Her urgent call for action came in the wake of two tragic fatalities on local roads within just a week, highlighting the pressing need for improved pedestrian safety measures.

Carrithers recounted the heartbreaking incidents: a woman struck while crossing West Broad Street and an 11-year-old girl killed while riding her bicycle near Ridge Elementary. "These deaths were preventable," she asserted, emphasizing that the community must do more to protect its residents.

While acknowledging the county's ongoing plans to enhance West Broad Street in conjunction with the BOLS bus rapid transit system, which won't be completed until 2029, Carrithers urged immediate action. She proposed simple yet effective solutions, such as painting crosswalks, adding warning signs for drivers, and launching a public safety campaign aimed at pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. "Paint is relatively cheap," she noted, stressing that these measures could save lives.

The meeting then shifted to the board's agenda, where the first item involved a resolution for the acquisition of property for drainage mitigation in the Brooklyn District. The board approved the purchase of an undeveloped parcel on Francistown Road for nearly $30,000, a move supported by the county manager and public works directors.

As the meeting concluded, Carrithers' heartfelt message lingered, underscoring the community's responsibility to ensure safer streets for all. The board's response to her call for action remains to be seen, but the urgency for change is clear.