Widower Asks Council for $1M Pedestrian Safety Fund

Dr. Jack Simmons urged Charleston officials to budget $1 million annually after his wife, 78, was fatally struck in a crosswalk.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Financial Planning

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of parallel crosswalk bars across a red street with a single streetlight pole, evoking pedestrian safety concerns. — Charleston's widower Dr. Jack Simmons asked City Council to budget $1 million yearly for pedestrian safety after his 78-year-old wife was fatally struck in a crosswalk. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Annelise Simmons, 78, a retired teacher and bed-and-breakfast owner, was fatally struck by a pickup truck on March 26 while in the crosswalk at King and Broad streets. Her widower, Dr. Jack Simmons, asked City Council to budget $1 million per year for pedestrian safety during the Oct. 27 meeting.

Why it matters

Charleston's traffic safety spending is a small share of its budget, with less than $900,000 of the traffic and transportation funds going to the traffic safety cost center. Mayor William Cogswell has directed staff to find $1 million for additional pedestrian safety improvements as the 2027 budget is drafted.

Charleston's 2026 budget totals more than $381 million, with just over $9.3 million allocated to traffic and transportation. The city has applied for a $5 million grant, of which it would pay $1 million if awarded, and the outcome has not been announced.

The players

Charleston City Council

The elected body that sets the city's annual budget and receives public comment on priorities such as pedestrian safety.

William Cogswell

The mayor of Charleston, who has directed city staff to identify $1 million for additional pedestrian safety improvements.

The details

After Simmons' death, the city added the King and Broad intersection to its list of planned improvements. Residents raised the issue during the public comment portion of the Oct. 27 council meeting, and a petition seeking a recurring pedestrian safety line item has more than 2,000 signatures.

March 26: Annelise Simmons was fatally struck in the crosswalk at King and Broad streets.
Oct. 27: Residents requested a pedestrian safety budget allocation at the City Council meeting.
Nov. 3: Charleston County's Transportation Sales Tax referendum appears on the ballot.
Dec. 1: First reading of the city budget is scheduled.
First quarter 2027: A progress report on the Safety Action Plan is expected.

Roadmap

Charleston adopted a Safety Action Plan and passed a resolution last year to reduce traffic-related fatalities. The current push for a dedicated $1 million annual line item seeks to convert those goals into recurring funding.

Residents who walk or drive in Charleston could see new crosswalk and intersection improvements if the city allocates the requested funds. Taxpayers may also see how municipal budget priorities are set during the December budget reading.

The takeaway

Public comment during budget season can shape how cities allocate recurring safety funding. Residents who want to influence spending priorities can attend council meetings and budget readings.

What happens next

The city is drafting its 2027 budget, with a first reading scheduled for Dec. 1, and a progress report on the Safety Action Plan is expected in the first quarter of 2027.