Honoring victims of traffic violence in Cleveland

Memorial Street Sign Program

Memorial Street Sign Program

Example of memorial sign; sign reads "Watch for pedestrians, In memory of Danielle Chronister"

Launched in 2024, the Memorial Street Sign Program honors those killed in traffic crashes. The program supports families and survivors while also encouraging safer driving across the city.

On June 27, 2024, family, friends, and former students of CMSD teacher Danielle Chronister gathered at East 21st Street and Chester Avenue to honor her memory. The event also marked the launch of new survivor support programs in partnership with Bike Cleveland and the City of Cleveland. Chronister was killed at this intersection on November 3, 2021, when a truck driver failed to yield as she crossed the street on her way to work.

At the event, the City unveiled a purple and gold memorial sign that read “Watch for Pedestrians” and included Chronister’s name. This was the first sign installed through the new Memorial Street Sign Program. Established in partnership with Chronister’s family and Bike Cleveland, the program allows families to request a City-sponsored memorial sign for loved ones who were killed in traffic crashes on Cleveland streets.

Program Details

What is it and why are we doing it?
The Memorial Street Sign Program supports the City’s broader Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on Cleveland streets. The program serves three main purposes:

  1. Honor: Memorialize those who lost their lives in traffic crashes.
  2. Educate: Remind drivers to practice safe driving behaviors and share the road responsibly.
  3. Raise Awareness: Highlight the lasting impact of traffic violence on families and communities.

What is the application process?

  • Step 1: Complete and submit the online application form. The applicant must be an immediate family member of the person who died.
  • Step 2: Applications are reviewed quarterly by the Transportation Infrastructure Advisory Committee (TIAC).
  • Step 3: Upon approval, the City will work with the family to finalize the sign design and installation timeline.
  • Step 4: The City installs the memorial sign at no cost to the family.

Submit a Memorial Street Sign Application

Learn more about Cleveland’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.