MoDOT Proposed College Avenue Safety Enhancements
The state department unveiled $1.6 million in intersection upgrades to boost safety for pedestrians in Columbia.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Safety
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The Missouri Department of Transportation has proposed safety improvements for two intersections on College Avenue in Columbia. The project follows findings from a city study that identified these locations as high-risk areas for pedestrian-involved accidents.
Why it matters
The enhancements aim to reduce traffic conflicts at key intersections that recorded 18 total pedestrian crashes over the last decade. These upgrades represent a targeted effort to address safety gaps highlighted by recent crash data and a municipal study.
The plan addresses two high-crash sites, including 12 pedestrian incidents at College Avenue and University Avenue and 6 at College Avenue and Rollins Street from 2015 to 2024. The $1.6 million project is supported by the MoDOT Vulnerable Road Users Fund.
The players
MoDOT
The Missouri Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for overseeing highway and infrastructure safety projects.
Barbara Buffaloe
The Mayor of Columbia, Missouri, was involved in a vehicle crash at the intersection of College Avenue and University Avenue in June 2026.
The details
The University Avenue upgrade will convert a left turn signal from permissive to protective, while the Rollins Street site will receive a new westbound left turn lane and signal improvements. The proposal originated from the City of Columbia Pedestrian Safety Study, which ranked these intersections as the highest priorities for safety modifications.
Timeline
Between 2015 and 2024, there were 18 total pedestrian-involved crashes at the two locations.
A Pedestrian Safety Study was published in November 2025.
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was involved in a crash at College Avenue and University Avenue in June 2026.
A public open-house meeting regarding the plans was held on September 22, 2026.
Project completion is anticipated by December 2028.
Seasonal Patterns
The proposed upgrades follow the specific safety recommendations outlined in the City of Columbia Pedestrian Safety Study. The project represents a direct implementation of that study, aligning local infrastructure investments with documented collision trends.
Drivers in Columbia should anticipate future traffic signal changes and construction-related lane closures at College Avenue and University Avenue and College Avenue and Rollins Street. Residents are encouraged to review the proposed signal and lane adjustments to prepare for altered traffic patterns by 2027.
The takeaway
Targeted infrastructure modifications are a primary method for reducing pedestrian accident rates at busy municipal intersections. Following these improvements, commuters should observe updated signaling and lane usage to navigate the redesigned corridors safely.
What happens next
MoDOT expects to award the contract in June 2027, with construction slated to begin as early as July 2027.
Further reading
For more information on ongoing infrastructure efforts, visit the Safety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC17NEWS.
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