City takes second look at deadly intersection

CREATED Dec. 12, 2011

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  • City officials now say they will be conducting a new study at the intersection of Broadway and Rosemont to determine if any changes need to be made. Video by kgun9.com

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  • Image by Journal Broadcast Group

Reporter:  Jessica Chapin

TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) - A fatal accident is shedding more light on a deadly intersection after 36-year-old Tina Rieger was hit and killed while walking in the crosswalk at Broadway Blvd and Rosemont.  KGUN9 On Your Side reporter Jessica Chapin pressed the city of Tucson for answers, and now they're taking another look at the location.

People who live and work near the crosswalk in question spoke out last week, saying they wanted to see a new left turn arrow or longer walk times for pedestrians headed across Broadway.  Friday, council member Steve Kozachik told 9 on your Side he'd already called the Tucson Department of Transportation to check it out.

When 9 On Your Side reporter Jessica Chapin called Monday to find out their results, the city's spokesperson said they did not plan to make any changes, and would not comment further.

That response was surprisng to Matthew Downey, who works right next to the intersection and knew Tina Rieger.

"The light's too short, people race off of Rosemont on to Broadway, there's not enough time to cross the street here," he said, "It's ridiculous.  Something needs to be done."

The city later admitted to 9 On Your Side that the study they looked at was from 2007.  Since then, development at the intersection has changed.  It's something council members Steve Kozachik and Paul Cunningham say merits a brand new study.

"I think some of those changes have happened at that intersection I think with that information we might be able to get a better understanding of what's going on over there," said Cunningham.

City officials now say they will be conducting a new study to analyze the number of accidents, volume of traffic and pedestrians, delay times, and visibility at the intersection to determine if any changes need to be made.