WASHINGTON — Almost a year after a fatal car attack during a white nationalist rally, the City of Charlottesville is taking steps to prevent future tragedy on the popular downtown pedestrian mall.
On Aug. 12, 2017, Heather Heyer was hit and killed by a speeding silver Dodge Charger as she walked on 4th Street at Water Street — one of two points where vehicles can slowly traverse the pedestrian plaza.
“There are some vulnerabilities with the bollard designs which are currently in place,” city Public Works Director Paul Oberdorfer recently told the City Council. “They’re more visual in nature of a barrier than they are anything that would protect pedestrians.”
This week, Charlottesville installed technology to begin collecting pedestrian and vehicle data, in putting together a risk assessment to determine needs for designing and building improved security measures.
City Manager Maurice Jones said temporary steps have been taken to improve pedestrian safety after Heyer was killed on a road that was supposed to be blocked during the Unite the Right rally.
Large city vehicles have been placed behind barricades during large events in Charlottesville, as a stop gap.
“We’re taking a very serious look at this for long-term solutions to address safety, now that Charlottesville has become one of those cities that’s been affected by a vehicular attack, like you’ve seen in other places around the country, and around the world,” Walker said.
Answering a question about whether the popular mall’s open, airy atmosphere would be sacrificed with hardened security, Jones said that posed a challenge.
“We have to find that right balance between what’s necessary to protect people, but also ensuring a place remains open, and not feel like you’re behind bars,” Jones said.
James Alex Fields Jr. was charged with first-degree murder and other charges, for allegedly crashing his car into Heyer and other protesters. He is scheduled to go on trial in November.
