On Tuesday, November 26, our community was reminded of a painful truth: it’s not always safe to cross the street in Arlington. Harlan Cuklanz, 85, was tragically killed by a car while crossing Massachusetts Avenue around 6 p.m.—in a crosswalk, where safety should be all but guaranteed. This marks at least the third pedestrian hit in Arlington Heights and second fatality along Mass Ave in the past year, a sobering pattern we cannot ignore. The October 16th crash in Lexington, while not receiving much attention in Arlington, claimed the life of a grandparent of an Arlington student. Pedestrian safety isn’t just a concern for those on foot—it impacts drivers too. The moment you step out of your car, you become a pedestrian. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee at Starbucks, meeting friends for dinner at Heights Pub, or picking up a treat at Cookie Time, those brief moments crossing busy streets can be dangerous. Ensuring safer streets means creating a community that’s access...
Making our town’s streets safer and more welcoming for everyone
