Smart Growth America has released a report showing pedestrian deaths between 2003 and 2012. According the the report:
723 people were killed while walking in Alabama
7.2% of all 10,061 traffic fatalities were pedestrians
49 Children under 16 and 93 adults over 65
72.9% of these deaths occurred on roadways with speed limits of 40% or higher
African Americans are twice as likely as non-hispanic whites to perish as a pedestrian.
Mobile, AL has the highest Annual Pedestrian deaths per 100k of any other city in Alabama. Mobile has over 3 deaths per year per 100,000 people, compared to second place, Columbus/Phenix City, which has just over 2 deaths/100,000
If you look at our roadways, it’s clear why we have so many deaths! Mobile’s roads were built with little thought for pedestrian/bicycle traffic. Speed limits are unreasonably high, road lanes are unnecessarily wide which encourages speeding, and there are few crosswalks/sidewalks. The city, county, state, and federal governments are ultimately culpable for these deaths by building unsafe public roadways. How many more people have to die, before our leaders stop only looking at traffic models and suburban expansionism and start building/repairing streets for ALL uses.
Sound Transit in Seattle, WA was made possible in part by federal transportation funding. Photo by Flickr user Sean Marshall.
Real estate developers everywhere are familiar with the federal programs and regulations involved with building transit-oriented development. With the federal surface transportation bill due to expire early this fall, how could these programs and regulations be improved?
We want to hear from you. Join LOCUS for a conference call on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 3:00 PM EST to discuss federal transportation programs as they relate to smart growth development and how these programs can better support walkable, sustainable development.
The event will be an opportunity for LOCUS members and allies to brainstorm and share ideas. Please join us next week!
LOCUS is a national network of real estate developers and investors who advocate for federal policies that promote sustainable, walkable urban development in America’s metropolitan areas. Learn more about LOCUS >>
Whether you walk, bike, drive or take transit, Complete Streets policies help make sure you travel safely and conveniently, and a new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would encourage every community in the country to use these strategies.
On Friday, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Safe Streets Act of 2014 (S. 2004), which would require all new federally-funded transportation projects use a Complete Streets approach to planning, designing and building roads.
“America’s streets should be safe and convenient for everyone, whether you are driving, riding a bike, walking or using transit,” says Roger Millar, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America. “The Safe Streets Act is another sign that Congress is dedicated to making our nation’s streets better for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or transportation choice.” (read more on Smart Growth America)
Students in Kailua, HI, walk along a street with Complete Streets features. A new bill in the Senate would require Complete Streets considerations for federal projects. Photo via Charlier Associates.
Whether you walk, bike, drive or take transit, Complete Streets policies help make sure you travel safely and conveniently, and a new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would encourage every community in the country to use these strategies.
On Friday, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Safe Streets Act of 2014 (S. 2004), which would require all new federally-funded transportation projects use a Complete Streets approach to planning, designing and building roads.
“America’s streets should be safe and convenient for everyone, whether you are driving, riding a bike, walking or using transit,” says Roger Millar, Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America. “The Safe Streets Act is another sign that Congress is dedicated to making our nation’s streets better for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or transportation choice.”
“I’ve been a proud supporter of Safe Streets policies since I was mayor of Anchorage and continue to support them here in the Senate,” said Sen. Begich in a statement. “These policies lead to safer roads, less traffic congestion, higher property values, and healthier families. That’s why I’m pleased to introduce this common-sense bill to strengthen our transportation infrastructure and enhance the quality of life in our local communities.”
“Too many people are killed or injured each year because our streets are simply not designed and built with the safety of everyone—including pedestrians and bicyclists—in mind. Our communities deserve safer streets,” Sen. Schatz said. “Many of our roads in Hawai’i and across America make travel difficult for seniors, families, youth, and others who are unable or choose not to drive. Our legislation provides commonsense solutions to consider the needs of our seniors and children, encourage alternative forms of transportation, and make our roads and communities safer for everyone.”
“We are pleased to see the Senate take action on the connection between roadway design and safety. Accommodating people who are walking, bicycling, driving, and riding public transportation is fundamental to creating livable streets,” said Rich Weaver, Chair of the National Complete Streets Coalition, and Director of Planning, Policy, and Sustainability for the American Public Transportation Association.
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman David Joyce (R-OH) introduced a House version of the bill (H.R. 2468) in June 2013. Both the Senate and House bills encourage safer streets through Complete Streets policy adoption at the state and regional-levels—mirroring an approach already being used in more than 610 jurisdictions in 48 states as well as the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Such policies are leading to safer streets and healthier, more vibrant communities across the country. A federal provision will ensure consistency in policies and funding needed to support these local efforts to ensure safe streets.
Last night, Congress released a $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014, which lays out funding for agencies and their programs working to help communities build in smarter, stronger ways. The bill contains many high points for smart growth advocates, and if you were one of the many people who encouraged Congress to pass a strong appropriations bill in the past few days, thank you. Your voices were heard! At the Department of Transportation, the bill includes $600 million for another round of grants for the TIGER program—a level not seen since 2010—as well as an increase in the New Starts program that communities need to meet the demand for transit service. Transportation for America has more on the transportation aspects of the bill. Another high point is funding for community development programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill would increase funding for HUD’s Community Development Block Grant formula program to just over $3 billion. The Choice Neighborhoods program, which helps communities to address struggling neighborhoods with HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation, would receive $90 million. Funding for the HOME program, which helps more communities develop unique solutions to create affordable housing, would be increased to $1 billion. Unfortunately, the bill did not include funding for another round of regional planning grants. At the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), funding for the Brownfields program—often the first funding a community receives to spur economic redevelopment—would stay level. The bill did not specifically call out funding for the EPA’s smart growth program. With this bill’s release, Congress takes a significant bipartisan step to returning to passing annual appropriations bills each year instead of continuing resolutions that freeze funding for programs across all agencies. The most recent funding bill expires tomorrow, and Congress is expected to pass a very short term continuing resolution through Saturday to give both the House and Senate to pass the omnibus by the end of the week.
Bicycling in Mobile
BicycleMobile.org is a an advocacy website devoted to every aspect of bicycling in Mobile, AL. We have lists of group rides, information about bike shops and a list of key issues for advocacy and infrastructure.
Last night, Congress released