Road safety advocates say the 2021 infrastructure bill doesn’t fully commit to its stated goals to help cities eliminate pedestrian and cyclist deaths.
Funding safety improvements via the 2021 infrastructure law won’t be enough to eliminate road deaths in the United States, say experts who are urging policymakers to take more drastic action. As Maylin Tu writes in Smart Cities Dive, “According to Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, government leaders must champion public transit and increase safety for all road users, especially the most vulnerable.”
Advocates point out that the infrastructure law “perpetuates our nation’s bias for cars” and allocates insufficient funding to pedestrian and bike safety efforts. For example, states are only required to spend part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program on safety improvements if pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities make up 15 percent or more of traffic fatalities.
“But all the rest of their money can go to create more problems that need to be fixed by these little bitty programs in the future,” says Beth Osborne, vice president for transportation and thriving communities at Smart Growth America. And while federal agencies are starting to recognize the increased risks to pedestrians posed by larger vehicles, car safety testing still largely focuses on the safety of the people inside the car.
FULL STORY: Getting to zero traffic fatalities will take more than infrastructure funds, experts say
OKC Releases Draft Vision Zero Plan
The plan identifies a High Injury Network and strategies for improving road safety on Oklahoma City streets.
Portland Traffic Deaths Surpass 2022 Number
This year, 69 people have died in traffic crashes in Portland, Oregon, nearly twice as many as in 2018, when the city began its Vision Zero program.
Audit: Portland’s Vision Zero Needs More Data, Funding
A city audit found that the program has failed to reduce traffic deaths and could benefit from a more systematic approach. Meanwhile, PBOT says it needs more state funding to support road safety projects.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line
Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.
Are Mobility Hubs Child-Friendly?
‘Mobility hubs’ aim to make urban travel easier by connecting travel modes. Adding more services could make them more accessible and useful to women and families.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research