Pedestrian safety challenge after toddler’s death in Boston – NBC Boston

A memorial with flowers, candles and pictures was set up near the Boston Children’s Museum, where a four-year-old girl was tragically hit and killed by a truck in March.

Gracie Gonchar’s parents, Gina Gancheva and Andy Newman-Gonchar, would still like to see more changes to the intersection of Congress and Sleeper streets, including wider sidewalks, they said Monday during a new pedestrian safety initiative.

“And I think a raised crosswalk would have made a difference, it would have slowed the driver down even more,” Newman-Gonchar said.

After Gracie’s death, the city repainted the crosswalk, cordoned off part of the busy area, and added other more pedestrian-friendly features.

Despite the changes, Gracie’s family will continue to establish a foundation to honor their little girl and potentially prevent another tragedy in Boston and elsewhere.

A fund was set up in Gracie’s name and raised more than $38,000.

“Our goal is for 100% of those dollars to go toward projects done in her name, whether it’s supporting pedestrian safety efforts,” Gancheva said. “Playgrounds, projects at children’s hospitals, schools, really any way we can bring her joy in all communities.”

NBC10 Boston reached out to the city Monday to request further safety improvements around the crash site. A spokesperson issued the following statement:

“Short-term improvements have already been made to this intersection, including daylighting and re-marking of pedestrian crossings. The city is also working on a design for longer-term road improvements in the area. This includes improvements to sidewalk accessibility on A St. from Congress St. to Melcher St. The project is expected to be fully announced later this summer and construction is expected to begin next spring.”

The spokesman added that two speed bumps had been installed on Sleeper Street.

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