Despite high rates of traffic deaths, rural communities lack the resources to address road safety issues.
Contrasting the urgency with which federal agencies investigate airplane incidents with our much more laissez-faire attitude toward car crashes, Claire Carlson, in an article in the Daily Yonder, notes that insufficient resources are allocated to improving safety on rural American roads.
About 25% of all pedestrian and cyclist deaths happen on rural highways, according to a 2010 report from the Highway Safety Information System. Speed limits on rural roads are generally higher than in cities, and most of them lack sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
Yet a $645 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2023 paled in comparison to the $7.4 billion in applications and requests. “While road safety should be improved everywhere, rural roads are especially in need of attention, as the number of rural applicants to this program illustrates.”
FULL STORY: Pedestrian Safety on Rural Roads
Jacksonville Takes Action on Vision Zero
The city is implementing its first-ever Vision Zero Action Plan in an effort to reduce pedestrian and cyclist deaths and serious injuries.
Traffic Safety Declining in U.S., Bucking Global Trend
While other countries are seeing fewer road deaths, traffic violence in the United States is back on the rise.
OKC Releases Draft Vision Zero Plan
The plan identifies a High Injury Network and strategies for improving road safety on Oklahoma City streets.
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.
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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