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After child struck, Fairway council approves $30,000 study of West 53rd/Canterbury safety
Summary
Following a Jan. 29 child‑pedestrian collision near Saint Agnes, Fairway council voted to amend its Burns & McDonnell contract to add a warrant analysis and sidewalk feasibility study for West 53rd and Canterbury and authorized approximately $30,000 from the city's contingency fund to pay for the work.
The Fairway City Council on Feb. 10 authorized an amendment to its engineering contract with Burns & McDonnell to perform a warrant analysis and sidewalk feasibility study on West 53rd Street and the Canterbury corridor, following a Jan. 29 collision that injured two children.
Brandon Newell, a parent who lives at 5340 Canterbury Road, told the council his two youngest children (ages 10 and 7) were struck by a car after school on Jan. 29; he said his son broke his ankle and urged the council to reassess speed limits, reinstate a crosswalk at the intersection and consider short‑term calming measures. "We feel very fortunate that our children survived the accident," Newell said in public comment and asked the council to pursue rapid steps to prevent future incidents.
Councilmember Bill and staff described the technical scope: Burns & McDonnell will collect vehicle and pedestrian counts, run a warrant analysis using the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) criteria, and evaluate options ranging from a marked crosswalk to a pedestrian hybrid beacon or RRFB, and sidewalks on the south side of 53rd. Phil Herman of Burns & McDonnell explained that the study will determine whether the data meet MUTCD thresholds for specific countermeasures.
The council voted to amend the city's design contract and approved a motion to cover the approximate $30,000 cost from the city's contingency fund; one council member abstained, noting a spousal employment relationship with the firm. Staff said the survey team would start promptly and that, if the warrant analysis shows a crosswalk is not recommended under MUTCD criteria, the engineers will return a range of alternatives and designs for council consideration. Nathan (city staff) reminded the public that data must drive what can legally be installed and that some recommendations require coordination with neighboring jurisdictions because the centerline of 53rd defines the Fairway–Roland Park boundary.
Residents urged short‑term mitigations if the study does not immediately support a crosswalk, including painting signage, volunteer crossing guards, trimming sight‑obstructing trees and targeted police enforcement during school arrival and dismissal times. City staff committed to posting the study data online when available and to coordinating with Roland Park and other neighbors as the study proceeds.
