Safe Streets

Spokane Launches Safe Streets Initiative
The Washington city received a $9.6 million federal grant to fund quick-build traffic calming and bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects.

California Legislature Issues Revised Budget Proposal
The new plan rejects some of Gov. Newsom’s proposed cuts to active transportation funding.

Houston Mayor Pauses Complete Streets Projects
The move raises concerns among road safety advocates who point out that traffic deaths continue to rise.

Orlando Pledges to Improve Walkability
A city report highlights successes and failures in building safer transportation infrastructure and reducing VMT in 2023.

Small Cities at Disadvantage to Win Federal Safe Street Grants
Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at making streets safer is being awarded through a competitive grant program, but it’s not going to the communities that need it most, an investigation shows.

New York DOT Status Report Shows Slow Progress on Bus, Bike Lanes
According to a report released by the agency, NYCDOT failed to meet its benchmarks for installing new dedicated bus and bike lanes.

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.

Safe Streets Ballot Measure Runs Into Unexpected Opposition
Los Angeles's Measure HLA would compel the city to make serious upgrades for walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation, all in the name of saving lives. Its biggest opponent: the firefighters union.

NYC Streets Plan Remains Largely on Paper
For the second year in a row, the city failed to meet legally required targets for building protected bike lanes and bus lanes.

USDOT Awards New Round of Safe Streets Grants
Over 200 cities and towns will receive $82 million for Complete Streets and other road safety planning and demonstration programs.

The Best New Complete Streets Policies, Ranked
After a pandemic hiatus, Smart Growth America has resumed creating an annual list of cities that are making the strongest commitments to improving street safety and making roads accessible and comfortable for everyone.

Court Rules Against Nashville Sidewalk Ordinance
The city can no longer require developers to pay for or build sidewalks.

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.

Opinion: Make Safe, Slow Streets the Default
For people with disabilities or limited mobility, a lack of safe infrastructure can cause significant disruptions, delays, and safety hazards.

Which Road Safety Interventions Work Best?
Data from New York City show that traffic safety projects that give pedestrians the most space are the most effective in reducing fatal crashes and injuries.

How Communities Can Leverage Federal Vision Zero Funding To Make Streets Safer
Two safe streets advocates give their recommendations for how to effectively use the $1 billion in annual funding available through a federal grant program.

How Does Freight Fit Into Complete Streets?
As home delivery of everything from groceries to furniture becomes more popular, policymakers must evaluate how to keep streets safe and accessible for pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

Proposed Ballot Measure Would Require L.A. To Enforce Own Mobility Plan
The city's 2015 mobility plan was hailed as one of the nation's most ambitious, but progress toward its goals has been less than impressive.

Opinion: Road Safety Data Should Include Close Calls
Even in the absence of lethal collisions, the experience of repeated near-misses can discourage pedestrians from walking and degrade public perception of road safety.

Safe Streets 'Champions' Announced
Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition announced a new initiative designed to help cities achieve the potential of a new approach to street design.
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