Results showing progress in the fight to end traffic fatalities have disappeared, just like some of the safety projects installed under the banner of Vision Zero.
Nicole Gelinas reflects on a deadly week on the streets of New York City—"six people killed in car crashes in just two days"—following a "bloody summer for walkers and bicyclists."
According to Gelinas, the death toll raises the question of how seriously Mayor Bill de Blasio is taking his Vision Zero campaign to end road deaths by 2024. According to Gelinas, the city reduced traffic deaths an encouraging amount in 2014 and 2015, but 2016 isn't looking likely to continue that trend.
Gellinas suggests that the city isn't doing enough, fast enough, to invest in pedestrian and bike safety. The city has also worked to opposite effect recently, as exemplified by city's recent decision to remove "pedestrian islands along Brooklyn’s dangerous Eastern Parkway," designed "to help schoolchildren cross the street more safely."
An article by David Meyer puts that decision in perspective:
DOT removed pedestrian islands on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights yesterday, undoing years of street safety advocacy work on the part of local residents and community board members with no public process, and no one in the de Blasio administration is taking responsibility.
Meyer's article also shows evidence of the buck being passed around by the Mayor's Office, the NYPD, and the DOT. A follow-up article the next day, also by Meyer, reports that Mayor de Blasio eventually blamed the decision on an unnamed local politician.
FULL STORY: Why de Blasio hit a wall on stopping traffic deaths
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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