Local nonprofit using art to promote pedestrian safety in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Reconnect Rochester, a local nonprofit that promotes accessibility to transportation and safety on the roads, is using art to make streets safer for pedestrians in the city, according to officials who spoke with News 8 on Tuesday.
Officials with the organization said that an average of 13 pedestrians are killed on local roads each year, adding that the organization's new 'Downtown SmART Streets' project aims to lower that number.
The idea, according to leaders, is to install curb extensions with murals at certain intersections.
The extensions shorten crosswalk distances, meaning pedestrians will spend less time in the roadway when crossing, officials said.
'What it does, is it narrows the road a bit. So, from a driving perspective, when you're driving toward a narrow intersection, the natural response is to slow down a little bit, and so, this makes it a little bit safer for pedestrians because vehicle speed is a huge factor in terms of whether a pedestrian is hit by a car, is able to walk that off, or survive that collision,' said Lourdes Sharp, project manager with Reconnect Rochester.
State Commission on Reparations looks to public for racial justice solutions during hearing in Rochester
The curb extensions will be installed at the East Main and Gibbs Street intersection, and the Broad and Fitzhugh Street intersection to start.
Local artists interested in working on the murals can contact Reconnect Rochester by March 22 to apply. Click here to learn more.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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