An additional benefit of the 14th Street Busway project in Manhattan has emerged: greatly reduced traffic collision rates.

Gersh Kuntzman writes: "The car-free 14th Street Busway is a real lifesaver. No, literally."
The benefits of the city’s transit-priority pilot program between Third and Ninth avenues in Manhattan are well documented: buses are moving much faster and ridership is up as a result of the improved service.
But the project is having a much greater, and much-less-heralded, safety impact.
The article includes data comparing the period from the busway's opening in October 2019 to January 2020 with the same period from the previous year. The difference is drastic.
"In the four months since the busway began in October, total crashes are down 53 percent and injuries are down 63 percent compared to the same four-month period a year earlier," according to Kuntzman. The article concludes with an appeal to deliver the same kind of safety benefits to additional congested, dangerous corridors around the city.
FULL STORY: The ‘Busway’ Proves Another Benefit of Car-Free Streets: Safety

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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