Residents decry unsafe roadway design on Owen Drive, say Fayetteville’s streets endanger pedestrians

Benjamin Holtquist told Fayetteville City Council at the March 13 public forum that the traffic death of a person hit on Owen Drive was not an accident but a consequence of the street’s design. Holtquist described Owen Drive as a “strode” — a hybrid of street and road that he said is “dangerous and inefficient” because it moves vehicles at speed while also serving destinations where pedestrians and businesses are present.

Holtquist said Fayetteville averages about 10 pedestrian deaths a year and that roughly a third of residents are “too poor, too young, too old, or too disabled to drive,” increasing reliance on walking and transit. He criticized gaps in sidewalks, an hourly bus schedule that leaves riders stranded on dangerous streets, and the lack of bike lanes on arterial and collector roads. “The city is hostile to them and people like me who choose the transportation options that are better for the environment, our health, and our wallets,” he said.

Holtquist urged the council to prioritize walking infrastructure and safer street design to prevent deaths and expand mobility for non-drivers. Council members thanked speakers and indicated staff follow-up would occur when issues were raised during public forum, but the council did not adopt immediate policy changes during the meeting.

This item was presented during the public forum; no formal motion or vote resulted directly from the remarks.