Faded brick rowhomes and worn down auto shops line the dimly lit Northeast Philly highway, where where more than 60 pedestrians were struck and killed between 2011 and 2016.
According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation’s Crash Info, that is about one pedestrian death per month.
PENNDOT’s Crash Info tool cites 45 fatal car vs. pedestrian accidents in Philly in 2016. Nearly 20% of them took place on Roosevelt Boulevard.
The highway is where a good number of commuters rely on to get to work every day, while others try their hardest to avoid it.
Zach Stein, a local software engineer, commutes on Roosevelt Boulevard daily. …show more content…
Others, however, think there’s a lack of police presence on the roadway.
“You can go from 9th Street to Street road without seeing a one police car,” said Robert Chalmers, a commuter from Plymouth Meeting.
Chalmers has taken the highway into the city for work at his own company, Chalmers Security Systems, Inc.
“There isn't enough police to patrol and enforce the speed limit.” he said.
Globally, one pedestrian is struck and killed in the U.S. every two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the CDC, more than 4,500 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2013.
Despite its flaws, not everyone has a negative relationship with the highway.
Mario Amarasinghe, a Center City resident, drives part-time for Uber when he is not working as an engineer in the city.
“To be honest, I find I-76 East to be more dangerous,” said Amarasinghe. “There are so many 18 wheelers, especially at night.”
Amarasinghe avoids I-76 East because it narrows down to two lanes. Roosevelt Boulevard is a three lane