Hilltop Campus Village, Davenport to begin pedestrian safety improvements

The Hilltop Campus Village (HCV) will take another step toward implementing its recently completed Master Plan on Thursday, Aug. 20, with the painting of a new high-visibility crosswalk and pedestrian improvements at the intersection of 14th and Main Streets in Davenport, according to a news release.

The Hilltop representatives will be joined by first-year students from St. Ambrose University participating in the university's Bee Ambrosian Service Day.

The project is part of the first phase of improvements identified through the Hilltop Campus Village Master Plan and is designed to improve pedestrian safety while demonstrating how relatively small, strategic investments can make neighborhood streets safer and more welcoming.

The project will use paint to more clearly define the pedestrian crossing and surrounding street space, increasing visibility for motorists and creating a stronger visual cue that pedestrians regularly use the intersection.

"This is exactly what we hoped would happen after completing the Master Plan," said Brian Kramer, executive director of the Hilltop Campus Village. "We didn't want the plan to sit on a shelf. We wanted it to become a roadmap for real projects that residents could see and experience. The work at 14th and Main is a relatively simple improvement, but it can have an immediate impact on pedestrian safety and the way people experience our neighborhood."

Main Street is an important residential thoroughfare through the Hilltop and is regularly used by students traveling to and from Central High School. The 14th and Main Street project will serve as a proof of a concept that, if successful, the HCV hopes to replicate at other intersections throughout the neighborhood.

Long-term, the Hilltop hopes to expand beyond enhanced crosswalks to include painted curb bulb-outs at strategic intersections. Painted bulb-outs can visually narrow the roadway, better define pedestrian space, and encourage motorists to approach intersections more cautiously without requiring major capital improvements.

"This is about showing what is possible," Kramer said. "If we can demonstrate that these improvements make intersections more visible, more attractive, and more comfortable for pedestrians, we can begin looking at other locations throughout the Hilltop where this approach could make a difference."

The painting project will take place Thursday, Aug. 20, at the intersection of 14th and Main Streets. St. Ambrose will help out from 9-11 a.m. that morning. Residents and community members are encouraged to follow the Hilltop Campus Village on social media for updates and photographs as the project progresses, the release says.

HCV seeks volunteers and organizations interested in participating in future neighborhood service projects. Individuals, businesses, schools, service clubs, congregations, and other organizations looking for volunteer opportunities are encouraged to contact the Hilltop Campus Village about helping bring similar improvements to additional intersections throughout the district.

About the Hilltop Campus Village

The Hilltop Campus Village is a nationally accredited Iowa Main Street district working to preserve, restore, redevelop, and revitalize Davenport's historic central corridor. Since 2009, HCV has worked alongside residents, businesses, educational institutions, property owners, and public partners to encourage investment, support locally owned businesses, improve quality of life, and create a stronger and more connected neighborhood.

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