Lafayette Square   523 S. Louisiana Street, Suite 305   Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

For immediate release

Monday, April 8, 2013

Downtown leaders kicked off a Pedestrian Safety Awareness Campaign this morning at the corner of  3^rd and Louisiana Streets. Downtown Little Rock is now home to 1,462 eStem students in the elementary, middle and high schools adjacent to this intersection.

These students, plus administrators, teachers, parents and volunteers, emphasize that pedestrians downtown are on the increase. Add to that traditional traffic patterns designed to get cars, trucks and buses in and out of downtown Little Rock quickly, and we have a recipe for potential problems, putting all on alert…drivers and pedestrians alike.

Mayor Mark Stodola said, “Downtown Little Rock is one of the most walkable areas in the city. Safety is especially important when walking or driving downtown. Stay alert and aware of your surroundings so as not to cause an accident.”

“We want everyone downtown to feel safe when crossing intersections, whether they are on their way to work, walking to get lunch or just needing a break in the afternoon!” said Stan Dimitrov, chair of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership’s (DLRP) Pedestrian Safety Committee.  “Unfortunately, downtown Little Rock has been designed with a focus on getting cars and busses quickly out of the area and the needs of pedestrians and bikers have become an afterthought.”

Jim McKenzie, executive director of Metroplan, said, "Metroplan congratulates the Downtown Little Rock Partnership for their campaign to make downtown a safer place for pedestrians and pledges our full support. Walkable communities are our most civilized places.  We can learn a great deal from what the Europeans are doing in this regard."

A DLRP Safety subcommittee of the Main Street Revitalization Committee monitoring Main Street growth and related safety issues was asked to address the larger downtown community safety issues as well.

Dimitrov added, “It is the mission of the Safety Committee, to have a renewed focus on our pedestrians. Our downtown is quickly changing - new businesses, condos and restaurants are opening almost monthly. And this means that more people will be filling our downtown. We encourage all drivers to be more cautious and careful as you drive through downtown. “

This press conference and three others throughout the month, sponsored by the new DLRP Pedestrian Safety Committee in cooperation with the City of Little Rock, will feature four locations downtown of special importance to pedestrians and drivers.

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For more information:

Becky Falkowski DLRP Public Relations/Communications Director

501-375-0121 or bfalkowski@downtownlr.com