Homicide and violent crime in the City of Erie is down this year.

However, the amount of serious and fatal crashes on Erie roads has doubled, prompting city officials to take a look at what can be done.

According to City of Erie officials, crashes overall haven't really increased or decreased compared to how many there is year over year.

There are typically around 1,000 in Erie in a year.

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However, there's been a significant increase in accidents on the roads that have resulted in severe injuries and even death.

"We've already doubled the number of fatalities and severe crashes that we've had this year, so there is a real need to focus our attention on this," said Jackie Spry, director of planning and neighborhood resources for the City of Erie.

There have been eight fatal crashes this year.

They're comprised of three pedestrians struck by cars, one motorcycle accident death, one ATV accident death and three car accident-related fatalities.

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The city is using a $200,000 federal grant to study where and when these crashes happen and implement changes to prevent them.

"Speed has been very prevalent in some of the accidents, some are just nighttime with pedestrians crossing the street. We've had three on 12th Street alone. So looking at the traffic and having the money to do this study can hopefully lead to ways we can make the traffic flow safer," Chief Dan Spizarny, City of Erie Police Department.

Right now, the city is taking into consideration a lot of data and pinpointing where most of these accidents happen and highlighting where things need to change.

"And that then becomes the priority areas, which right now is 12th Street, 26th Street, Broad Street and Buffalo Road, Sixth Street and East Lake Road, 18th Street, State Street and Parade Street," Spry said.

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Despite these locations being a priority, the study will be city-wide and rely on input on traffic experiences of residents. The goal is to eliminate these accidents.

"One death is too many. We've had eight this year. It can't be this way," she added.

The city will have a public input session on September 25 at the Blasco Library, 160 East Front St., from 5-7 p.m.

Community input will be crucial to this project so the city understands people's traffic experiences. A link to a survey for the project can be found here.