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Council orders review of street projects and traffic safety after Hyde Park child’s death; speed humps and cooling centers among measures urged
Summary
Following the fatal crash that killed a 5‑year‑old in Hyde Park, councilors filed hearing orders to review the mayor’s 30‑day street project review, accelerate traffic calming (including speed humps), improve crossing guard staffing, and assess cooling centers and power outage responses for vulnerable residents.
Councilors filed multiple hearing orders and took statements urging immediate action on street and pedestrian safety in the wake of a child’s death in Hyde Park after a collision involving a vehicle and a school bus.
Councilors Weber and Pepin filed a hearing order asking the administration to report on the 30‑day review of street projects and how it will affect safety projects citywide; Councilor Pepin cited the Hyde Park death and said the review must not delay lifesaving safety work. Councilors called for immediate measures such as increased traffic calming (speed humps), redesigns at dangerous intersections, and stepped up enforcement where drivers endanger pedestrians.
Councilor Murphy and other members underscored systemwide needs: better coordination on crossing guard recruitment and deployment, faster implementation timelines for speed humps and intersection redesigns, and interagency action when multiple jurisdictions are involved. Councilor Durkin said a hearing on speed humps was already scheduled for June 9 and encouraged colleagues to attend to ensure a robust, citywide approach.
Councilor Braden filed a separate order requesting a hearing on the city’s availability of cooling centers during extreme heat emergencies, noting that planned HVAC upgrades at senior centers require temporary relocations and that utility outages during hot weather have left vulnerable residents without cooling. Sponsoring councilors urged the city to assess sheltering capacity, communication plans, and accessibility for residents with medical equipment reliant on power.
Action: Docket 0972 (hearing on the 30‑day street project review) and docket 0975 (hearing on cooling centers) were referred to Planning, Development and Transportation and to Public Health, Homelessness, and Recovery respectively; Councilor Murphy and others scheduled a June hearing on traffic calming measures and requested administration participants.
