Road safety advocates say the 2021 infrastructure bill doesn’t fully commit to its stated goals to help cities eliminate pedestrian and cyclist deaths.
Funding safety improvements via the 2021 infrastructure law won’t be enough to eliminate road deaths in the United States, say experts who are urging policymakers to take more drastic action. As Maylin Tu writes in Smart Cities Dive, “According to Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, government leaders must champion public transit and increase safety for all road users, especially the most vulnerable.”
Advocates point out that the infrastructure law “perpetuates our nation’s bias for cars” and allocates insufficient funding to pedestrian and bike safety efforts. For example, states are only required to spend part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program on safety improvements if pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities make up 15 percent or more of traffic fatalities.
“But all the rest of their money can go to create more problems that need to be fixed by these little bitty programs in the future,” says Beth Osborne, vice president for transportation and thriving communities at Smart Growth America. And while federal agencies are starting to recognize the increased risks to pedestrians posed by larger vehicles, car safety testing still largely focuses on the safety of the people inside the car.
FULL STORY: Getting to zero traffic fatalities will take more than infrastructure funds, experts say
OKC Releases Draft Vision Zero Plan
The plan identifies a High Injury Network and strategies for improving road safety on Oklahoma City streets.
Portland Traffic Deaths Surpass 2022 Number
This year, 69 people have died in traffic crashes in Portland, Oregon, nearly twice as many as in 2018, when the city began its Vision Zero program.
Audit: Portland’s Vision Zero Needs More Data, Funding
A city audit found that the program has failed to reduce traffic deaths and could benefit from a more systematic approach. Meanwhile, PBOT says it needs more state funding to support road safety projects.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service