Small, localized interventions such as changes to signal timing and crosswalk improvements are saving lives and improving traffic safety.
The city of Austin has completed its first round of bond-funded street safety projects as part of its Vision Zero initiative, reports Kelsey Thompson for KXAN.
The projects followed a $15 million Vision Zero allocation as part of a mobility bond passed in 2016. “Through the program, Meyer said Vision Zero has taken a more holistic approach toward transportation improvements, focusing on investments that not only benefit drivers but pedestrians, cyclists and other forms of commuters.”
The funds were focused on safety improvements such as crosswalks, shared-use paths, signal timing, and street lighting. City officials say low-cost, quick-build improvements have shown impressive effectiveness at reducing crashes, deaths, and serious injuries.
“Some of those with the most bang for their buck include traffic signal timing changes, leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) and protected left-turn lanes,” Thompson adds. “Over the next three years, Vision Zero will be tackling a dozen more intersection safety projects courtesy of the city’s 2018 and 2020 mobility bonds.”
FULL STORY: Austin’s Vision Zero wraps 2016 mobility bond safety projects
Connecticut Launches Complete Streets Standards
The new policy calls for sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks on state roads and state-funded road projects.
San Francisco Implements ‘Daylighting’ at Intersections
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Study: Crosswalk Lighting Radically Improves Pedestrian Safety
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Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
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Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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