Today Jim Kumon and I are in Springfield, Massachusetts, where last night we delivered our last Curbside Chat of 2014. It is fantastic to do this here because not only is it the home of one our longtime supporters – Steven Shultis of Rational Urbanism – but Springfield is one of these forgotten places perfectly positioned to be included in the next generation of great cities.

Still, I went to bed last night feeling a little depressed. Here’s why:

A 7-year-old girl remained in critical condition at a city hospital late Tuesday morning, Sgt. John Delaney said.

The girl's mother and 8-year-old cousin, initially listed in serious condition following the accident, are improving and in stable condition, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

The driver, Sandra S. Zemtsova , 48, of Russell Street, West Springfield, was arrested and charged with three counts of operating under the influence of liquor resulting in serious bodily injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

The accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. as the woman, her daughter and her niece came out of the library and attempted to cross directly across the street to the parking where their car was parked, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

They were hit in one of the westbound lanes as they attempted to cross near the front steps of the library, some distance away from the nearest crosswalk at the signalized intersection of State and Chestnut Streets.

The seven year-old (she’s the same age as my daughter) is not expected to live. The eight year old has two broken legs and head injuries. A family’s entire existence has been transformed for the worse. This is a monumental tragedy….

….that happens thousands of times each year.

I’m sad because the world doesn’t need to be this way. This particular death was completely foreseeable by anyone who has ever spent any amount of time outside of a vehicle. In fact, here’s from that article:

Carol Costa, president of the Armoury-Quadrangle Association, said the lack of a safe crossing in front of the library has long been a great concern to the association.

"There have been many accidents and near-accidents there over the years," Costa said. "It's a terrible thing, last night's accident was just awful, but I have to say that it's not surprising given the circumstances."

Costa said there used to be a crosswalk there some years ago, marked by an orange traffic barrel. Even then, however, the association lobbied for something even more visible, she said.

The crosswalk was removed, however, and a hedge and chain fence were installed directly in front of the library to encourage those seeking walk across State Street to do so at the Chestnut Street intersection, Costa said.

Let me show you what is going on. In the picture below you will note the library on the right side, the parking lot on the left. Look way down the street and you will see the signalized intersection. The engineers here have determined that the flow of traffic on this despotic, over-designed urban stroad cannot be inconvenienced by being forced to slow down to a humane speed. Instead, they erect hedges, fences and other barriers to force the inconvenience on the mother and her two children, who – it should be noted – were walking in the sleet after spending some time at the public library.