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. Below are a few success stories of our participants:
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 status updates, visit the Georgia Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan web site.
