A city report highlights successes and failures in building safer transportation infrastructure and reducing VMT in 2023.
The city of Orlando says it will ramp up efforts to improve walkability after receiving a Walk Score of 41 out of 100, reports Sabrina Maggiore for Yahoo News. According to the city’s 2023 Growth Management Plan Indicators Report, only 2.7 percent of Orlando residents walk to work.
Additionally, accessibility is an issue: “Some in wheelchairs say getting around the city can be especially challenging: they point to missing sidewalk ramps at pedestrian crossings, incomplete sidewalks, and areas where sidewalks are altogether non-existent.”
The report also notes that the city did not meet its 2023 goal of building 25 miles of new sidewalks or reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
The city released a statement touting its current and future efforts to build out its sidewalk network and make its roads safer. According to the statement, “Quick-Build projects, such as crosswalks, bike lanes and parklets, are all part of Orlando’s Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries within the city by 2040.”
FULL STORY: Orlando says improvements are coming after city scores 41 out of 100 for walkability
How “Proven Safety Countermeasures” Save Lives
A bill named in honor of a U.S. diplomat killed while on her bicycle would let state DOTs access full federal funding for road safety projects.
Report: San Diego’s Lack of Progress on Vision Zero Mirrors Nationwide Trend
The city’s efforts to improve road safety have been outweighed by other factors such as larger vehicle sizes.
Houston Mayor Pauses Complete Streets Projects
The move raises concerns among road safety advocates who point out that traffic deaths continue to rise.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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