While the number of people hit and killed while walking is declining across the world, the US is the only developed nation with an increasing number of pedestrian deaths year after year. In 2022, 7,522 people were hit and killed while walking. Now, we’re trying to play catch up by adopting a decades-old UN rule that falls short of necessary common-sense pedestrian safety measures.
It’s time for transportation investments that achieve results for all Americans. For future investments in U.S. infrastructure, Congress should follow three key principles: fix it first, prioritize safety over speed, and invest in the rest.
This July, Smart Growth America traveled to Atlanta to support the Partnership for Southern Equity’s (PSE) screenings of the video, “ATL Rising: Building resilience in the face of extreme heat,” which highlights the interactions between extreme heat, the built environment, and health equity in the city. The two video screenings brought together residents, activists, and … Continued
In this year’s Dangerous by Design report, Florida was ranked as the second most deadly state for people walking. From 2018-2022, Florida saw an average of 3,705 deaths on their roadways, with a fatality rate of 3.43 (well above the national average of 2.26). Additionally, we found that eight of the twenty most deadliest metro … Continued
On July 9th, 2024, Smart Growth America and partners engaged the Future of Transportation Caucus and the Office of Senator John Fetterman on the importance of creating a transportation system that is safe for all users.
Recently, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, an SGA partner, released their Blueprint for a Better Region for the Washington, DC metropolitan area—a stellar example of the important work being done on the ground, one that can be replicated in communities across the country.
On Tuesday, January 16, Smart Growth America, the National Brownfields Coalition’s Environmental Justice Committee, and our allied technical assistance partner organization, Green Resources & Opportunities Workforce (GROW), submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft Meaningful Involvement Policy. The revised policy will guide EPA’s public involvement approach across all of its programs and regions.
Smart Growth America helped organize a coalition that urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow climate funds to go towards adaptive reuse projects in location-efficient areas. The decision by the EPA to grant this funding is a climate justice win. Thousands of buildings lie vacant in rural and low-income communities, and not for lack … Continued
On May 3, Transportation for America, a program of SGA, submitted comments in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) request for improvements to the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) Guidelines. The MMUCC guidelines provide recommendations to state and local agencies on the collection of crash data, specifically looking at the variables … Continued
Inaccessibility in society often means that disabled people simply don’t have the same opportunities as their non-disabled counterparts. Barriers make something as simple as leaving the house difficult, and sometimes impossible; often leaving disabled people cut off from society. Despite being more likely to rely on public transportation, one of the biggest mobility challenges cited … Continued