The Fishtown Neighbors Association Safety Committee finally succeeded in getting a crosswalk and a four-way stop approved for the area around Frankford Avenue, Shackamaxon, and Thompson Streets. It's a huge win, and it took years of advocacy from neighbors to get it done.

But community volunteers shouldn't need to work so hard for crosswalks and other basic safety needs.

Frankford Avenue is a neighborhood street, not a state highway.

This is a vibrant street lined with restaurants, coffee shops, a post office, a public park, and many people’s homes. It's long past time to redesign the Avenue so it puts River Wards neighbors first, instead of those driving through on their way to someplace else.

This crosswalk is a great first step, but PennDOT and the Streets Department need to do more, and soon.

The stop signs at Shackamaxon and Thompson will make a big difference at one dangerous intersection, but there is plenty of work left to do. Frankford Avenue still has a half-mile stretch without any safe pedestrian crossings or other traffic calming features. And other emerging corridors like Front Street, Girard, and York will all need major pedestrian safety changes, even after Frankford is fixed.

The status quo is especially bad for businesses on the corridor, since their foot traffic depends on customers' willingness to make dangerous crossings. 

Enough is enough. Here's what you can do to help fix Frankford:

1. Sign this petition to remind PennDOT that Frankford Avenue is a neighborhood street, not a highway.

2. Share it on Facebook and Twitter with your friends and neighbors, using the hashtag #streetnothighway.

Stay tuned: We'll let you know about upcoming opportunities to share this message with elected officials, and plug in to work that River Wards neighbors are doing to make Frankford Avenue safe for everyone.