Cars will soon be stopping for red lights in front of the Bonanza Casino, part of a longtime quest to reduce pedestrian deaths on north Virginia Street. Pedestrian Jacqueline Provencio knows all about the dangers there. As she told us, “Some cars don't stop. Some people keep going or they go faster. It makes it almost impossible to get across." For her, a traffic light here is a long time coming: "I think that's a good idea. There are a lot of people who have been hit."
It took a push from the governor to get this temporary traffic light. Since the year 2000, 5 pedestrians have been killed right in front of the Bonanza Casino, crossing a very wide stretch of a very busy street that gets quite chancy to cross at night. Pedestrian Michael Smith told us, "It's very dark, and that's the problem. They ought to reduce the speed limit for one thing."
The last to die at the crossing was Vincent Yowell, 5 months ago. His makeshift shrine still marks the spot. It was placed there by a Bonanza Casino employee. Many of them cross here to get to work. Bonanza general manager Ryan Sheltra told us, "They get off that bus there and they have to cross the street. It's been very dangerous without the light."
Ryan's dad opened the casino in 1973. North Virginia was a quiet road then, but that changed in the 90's. He's been asking for a light here for years now: "For about 15 years to get to this point. And unfortunately it took longer than it probably should have, and unfortunately people got hurt."
Why did it take so long for one to get put up? Meg Ragonese from NDOT told us, "We, over the past few months under the direction of the state transportation board, have designated more than $10 million in state transportation funds." Those were approved this year. The $216,000 traffic signal will start stopping cars there by early June. The permanent pole structures and concrete turn medians will show up later, Ryan thinks by late fall. Already, electronic signs are up reading, "Please slow down, crosswalk ahead." And what other casino do you know that has pedestrian warning signs in lights on their reader board? The Bonanza does…for Ryan, it's been a personal battle that is finally reaching its end. How does he feel today? He looked over at the traffic light crew working across the street and told us, "This is a good day."
