Residents in the Elmwood neighborhood near Hoigaard Village are rallying for the installation of a stoplight at the intersection of West 36th Street and Xenwood Avenue after a fatal car accident in May.

Richard Mesenburg, 72, lived in the Towerlight apartment complex nearby. He was hit and killed by a turning car as he was walking across 36th Street.

Debra Heiser, engineering director for St. Louis Park, said the city was planning on installing a stoplight at the intersection in 2018, but has moved it up to 2015.

Heiser said Elmwood residents raised the topic at neighborhood meetings in July and August.

“(The neighborhood) brought up that they wanted it sooner, so we really took a hard look at why it was scheduled in 2018,” Heiser said.

According to Heiser, city projects also contributed to the need for a stoplight.

Kristine Strout, the manager of the American Legion Post located on 36th Street and Xenwood Avenue, said she sees many close calls every day.

“People coming from Burlington and Microcenter really can’t pull out properly because the traffic’s flying,” Strout said.

Freshman Ellery Deschamps said she thinks the stoplight is important, but the installation can wait.

“Because 2015 is soon it’s fine to wait (for the stoplight). But it shouldn’t be too far into 2015, because it’s important that the roads are safe for drivers,” Deschamps said.

Strout said she hopes the city sees how dangerous the street is and installs the stoplight soon.

“I had heard that (the city was) going to try and (install the stoplight) this year, but now they’re pushing it and making it 2015. Because the light wasn’t there we lost one life,” Strout said. “I’m hoping this woke them up.”