Why measuring traffic deaths alone doesn’t paint a full picture.
In a piece in Next STL, Christian Frommelt argues that planners and transportation officials shouldn’t rely exclusively on crash statistics to understand road safety conditions in their cities. “We need metrics that keep us accountable and crash data alone is inadequate in implementing serious, sweeping change.”
For Frommelt, “Measuring modal share—the proportion of people walking/rolling, biking, taking public transit, and driving—will help determine whether car-dominant planning continues to supplant overall health and safety.” Moreover, Census data only shows modal share for commutes to work, obscuring the many other types of trips that people take to grocery stores, schools, healthcare facilities, entertainment venues, parks, and more.
In St. Louis, where Frommelt lives, a new Complete Streets bill could help the city gather more information about those metrics and assess how infrastructure investments are paying off for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. Measuring mode share more accurately can also unlock federal funding opportunities.
FULL STORY: Why Crash Statistics are Inadequate for Planning Safer Streets
How “Proven Safety Countermeasures” Save Lives
A bill named in honor of a U.S. diplomat killed while on her bicycle would let state DOTs access full federal funding for road safety projects.
Pedestrian Deaths Tick Down — But Rose 58 Percent in the Last Decade
Road fatalities fell by a meager 4 percent in the first half of 2023.
How Cities are Spending Safe Streets Funds
New federal grant programs are injecting millions of dollars into road safety projects in an effort to stem the alarming growth of traffic deaths on U.S. roads.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.
San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.
A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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