Success Stories
Testimonials
Richard Haggstrom, C.E., T.E.
Pedestrian Program Manager
California Department of Transportation
April L. Hannon
District 4-0 Enhancement and Quality Coordinator
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Mary Meletiou
Program Manager, Bicycle and Pedestrian Studies
Institute for Transportation Research and Education
Participant Success Stories
Several states and cities have developed Pedestrian Safety Action Plans and other materials after receiving training on designing and planning for pedestrian safety. A full list of state and city Pedestrian Safety Action Plans, both completed and currently in development, is available here.
Below are a few success stories of our participants:
Arizona Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
In 2005, Arizona ranked 5th among states in pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents, with 164 pedestrian fatalities on Arizona’s roadways—a nearly 30 percent increase from 2003 levels. To reduce the number of pedestrian crashes in Arizona, the state of Arizona is participating with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to reduce pedestrian crashes, fatalities, and injuries. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is leading the initiative in coordination with FHWA Arizona Division Office and the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. A key activity of the initiative is development of the ADOT Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The ADOT Pedestrian Safety Action Plan recommends actions that when funded and implemented will reduce the number and rate of pedestrian crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the Arizona State Highway System. In cooperation with FHWA, Road Safety Audits were also conducted in Phoenix to assess conditions and evaluate that tool. More information about the audits can be found in the Spring 2007 Pedestrian Forum Newsletter.
New York City Pedestrian Safety Study & Action Plan
The New York City Pedestrian Safety Study and Action Plan identifies pedestrian safety concerns in New York City and makes recommendations for implementing programs and countermeasures to address safety needs. Relying upon an analysis of eight years of crash data, this plan builds on the NYC Department of Transportation’s overall strategic plan, Sustainable Streets, to ensure that pedestrian safety is included in all transportation projects and improvements. Based on the findings of the crash analysis, various recommendations were made to improve pedestrian safety, including: installing pedestrian countdown signals at 1,500 intersections, retrofitting specific locations to improve pedestrian access and mobility, and launching pilot programs to evaluate low-speed streets and improve visibility. The full study was released in August 2010.
Pinellas County Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
Over the past five years, the number of per capita pedestrian crash fatalities in Florida has been higher than every other state except New Mexico. Over the past five years, on average, 28 people per year have died in Pinellas County pedestrian crashes and nearly 100 people per year have sustained incapacitating injury. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) published its Pinellas County Pedestrian Safety Action Plan in hopes of reducing these numbers. Approved by the MPO at its meeting on September 9, 2009, the Plan provides local government agencies in the County with engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency medical service (EMS) strategies and supporting information to help local practitioners understand the tools and organizational changes necessary to implement these strategies.
New Jersey completes statewide pedestrian safety action plan
Before New Jersey was deemed a "pedestrian focus state" as part of the FHWA Pedestrian Safety Action Plan project, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) had already begun developing a Pedestrian Safety Plan. The plan, in coordination with the Governor's Pedestrian Safety Initiative, was quickly adopted by the NJDOT and New Jersey became the first of the 13 focus states to have a plan ready for implementation. Through these initiatives, pedestrian safety issues and needs has become increasingly important to public officials and parents of school age children and have become a regular topic of local news coverage, editorials, and letters to the editor. Pedestrian safety efforts are taking place in three key categories, Engineering, Enforcement, and Education, and are to be financed through a commitment of $74 million over five years. For details on New Jersey's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and other activities, view the NJ Walks and Bikes Bicycle and Pedestrian Newsletter.
Arizona completes statewide pedestrian safety action plan
Arizona has made pedestrian safety a top commitment among transportation agencies and local governments and has begun a number of initiatives in the state to reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has partnered with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and local jurisdictions to develop a Statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. For details, view the Guide to Developing a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan: An Arizona Supplement to the National "How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan" (PDF).
Georgia developing statewide pedestrian safety action plan
The State of Georgia has also been in the works to develop a state Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, as part of the State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). They formed "Task Teams" for several key emphasis areas and assigned team leaders in December 2006. The Task Team is expected to serve as the State's Bike/Ped Advisory Committee after the completion of the plan. So far, the task teams have:
- Identified all laws related to biking and walking
- Reviewed GDOT design policies for roadways and pedestrian facilities
- Identified funding programs at local, regional, and state levels
- Analyzed existing conditions and crash statistics
The group is currently working on developing draft recommendations for treating high-crash areas and expects the plan to be completed and adopted by the SHSP Executive Committee and the Governor by September 2007. For more information, visit the Georgia State Bicycle and Pedestrian Program web site.
Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Pedestrian Safety Guidelines
The primary goal of these guidelines is to offer recommendations on how to enhance the pedestrian safety within the CAMPO area. The template was created through a joint effort of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), and Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. These guidelines are meant to be a "living" document in that it will be updated as state and local policies evolve within the CAMPO area. The purpose of these guidelines is not only to identify existing policy, but to identify some of the deficiencies that exist regarding pedestrian safety and to offer suggestions on how to remedy these deficiencies.
The Pedestrian Safety Guidelines can be downloaded here.
