Designs for Change: Buffalo, NY
The number of people hit and killed while walking in Buffalo, New York has decreased by 50 percent since 2018, thanks to the efforts of local advocates and city officials to prioritize safety over speed.
Pedestrian safety
Safer Speeds are the Secret Sauce to the Safe System Approach
After a decade of increased pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and a historic spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) published its first-ever National Roadway Safety Strategy in 2022 – setting a goal of zero traffic deaths and adopting a Safe System Approach to achieve it. In explaining the Safe System … Continued
Benefits of Complete Streets: Dormont, PA
After successful adoption of an impressive Complete Streets Policy, the Safe Mobility Commission in Dormont, Pennsylvania is taking the first strides toward implementation through the installation of a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB).
Pedestrian fatalities at historic high
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released final data for 2022 traffic crashes revealing 7,522 people were struck and killed while walking that year. This crisis isn’t new—pedestrian fatalities are on a consistent upward trajectory and have increased by 68 percent since 2011. We need strong leadership and swift, wholesale action to make our … Continued
What is the future of walkability in St. Louis?
As part of a technical assistance project to help local decision makers understand the needs for better mobility and craft stronger policies, I recently had the opportunity to visit and explore one of the great cities of the Midwest–St. Louis, Missouri. Like most American cities, St. Louis clearly demonstrates the impacts of design that prioritizes high-speed driving and punishes all other forms of mobility.
New tool: Complete Streets Story Map
Smart Growth America, in partnership with CityHealth, created a resource that takes a deep dive into all things Complete Streets. Whether you’re a planner, engineer, advocate, or new to the smart growth space, the Complete Streets story map can serve as an interactive tool that breaks down what makes a Complete Street and why they’re … Continued
Press statement: Newly updated MUTCD doesn’t go far enough to protect pedestrians
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 20) — Yesterday, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), a document “that governs how traffic control devices communicate the design intent to the road user to safely and efficiently navigate the roadway system.” Smart Growth America and Transportation for America … Continued
Safe streets are global—and it’s time for the U.S. to catch up
Whether they’re considered Complete Streets or silver zones, other parts of the world are reimagining how streets function and are designed. The U.S. is falling behind, so in order to spur hope and inspiration of what the future of mobility can look like across the nation, we look to what is being made possible in … Continued
Brighter streets, safer streets: Improving pedestrian safety after dark
Pedestrian deaths are on the rise, with 76 percent of fatalities occurring at night. We know that the dangerous design of our roadways emphasizes speed over safety. Reduced visibility at night also drastically increases risk. Improved lighting can help keep pedestrians safe, but if we want long-term solutions, we need to reevaluate the priorities deeply embedded in our transportation infrastructure.
NEW VIDEO: Creating Thriving Communities Through Complete Streets: Wenatchee’s Story
Made in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health, our new video tells the story of Wenatchee, Washington—a community that came together to make their streets safer. Watch to hear from community members about how a temporary installation has made a permanent change to their approach to safety and accessibility.