No Stoplights are Causing Danger to Students Crossing 63rd and Long Ave
April 30, 2024
By Fatima Santiago
Students cross this unmonitored street daily, creating risks of an accident happening
Google Images of 63rd and Long Ave, Chicago, Illinois
My experience with the non-existing stoplights by 63rd and Long has not been the best. Cars are going over the speed limit by almost 10 miles an hour, not to mention it is not a school zone. There is no warning or school zone speed limit. It is a dangerous intersection as there are blind spots that can create a traffic accident if a person does not see the car coming.
This issue is significant for students in Hancock: the stoplights help with our safety and help students cross. The missing light has put our students in danger of being hit by a car.
Crossing the street is dangerous, especially when there is no supervision over the speed limit or stop lights. Accidents from these dangerous streets have ended in fatalities at times. For example, on March 31st, a CPS employee, Charles Mills was killed in a hit-and-run on 63rd and Pulaski, but the problem isn't only down Pulaski road. It travels everywhere around the neighborhood.
The uncontrolled intersection on 63rd and Long is a huge issue. The street is heavily trafficked and dangerous as it's by Midway Airport and our high school.
This intersection needs a heavily important element that helps keep order and maintain safety: stoplights. Stoplights are essential elements that ensure public safety and orderly transportation.
To add on, local officials are deciding on a new police district that may be built on 5400 w 63rd St, according to a Block Club Chicago article titled “Southwest Side Alderpeople Pitch 63rd Street Building For New Police District” where Southwest Siders have shown overwhelming support for the new district.
If a new police district is added, additional traffic will emerge, making it more dangerous for students to cross with no stoplights or speed limits. Although students will benefit from a police district near them, changes have to be made for their safety.
Students have to wait until the street is clear, and have to jaywalk across the street when getting off the bus, which can take a while since it is a heavily trafficked street.
This was written in Hancock’s Journalism class for The Signature.