New research published by the Journal of Transport and Land Use analyzes tens of thousands of pedestrian fatalities over 16 years in the United States.
A study published by the Journal of Transport and Land Use provides an unprecedented map of traffic safety—or lack thereof—in the United States.
An article by Kea Wilson shares news of the new research: "In what may be the only attempt to map the U.S. corridors with the highest numbers of pedestrian deaths ever conducted, researchers analyzed data on every pedestrian crash fatality since the federal government began collecting standardized data on them in 2001, until 2016, the last year for which finalized data is available."
Three-quarters of the most fatal roads for pedestrians are located in low-income neighborhoods, according to one of the key findings of the research. There's a surprising amount of geographic variety to be found on the list of "hot spot" corridors—defined as 1,000-meter stretches of road where drivers have killed at least six pedestrians in eight years or less.
The surprisingly varied list spans communities from pedestrian-rich Northeastern megacities to car-dependent Sun Belt towns that routinely rank among the most dangerous for pedestrians. Notorious roads like U.S. Highway 19 in Pasco County, FL, made the list – the 20-mile corridor was the site of seven distinct hot spots and 137 walking fatalities during the study period, almost the same number of U.S. commercial airline deaths during the same years — but so did 12 corridors in New York City, which often ranks as the most walkable city in America.
The variety of the list does not extend to the designs of the roads, according to Wilson. "No matter the location, the design of the deadly roads were much the same: ultra-wide, blisteringly fast, and flanked by businesses to which residents walk every day."
As noted by Wilson, despite the growing rate of pedestrian fatalities in the United States, most cities don't map their worst crashes. Some advocates, like one cited in the source article, think cities should be required to map their pedestrian fatalities—and be required to undertake design and engineering improvements to reduce fatalities.
Rebecca L. Sanders, the founder and principal researcher of Safe Streets Research, LLC and a co-author of the study, is quoted in the article saying that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the capability to get the geo-data on road characteristics near hot spots.
FULL STORY: The Most Dangerous Roads in America for Walkers
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
Denver's New High-Rise Integrates Vertical Canyon in Architectural Design
Unlike other new builds in Denver, Colorado, a new high-rise reveals a unique “sculptural canyon” running vertically through the facade to foster a sense of community and connection to nature.
Federal Resilience Program a Lifeline for Affordable Housing Providers
The little-known Green and Resilient Retrofit Program funds upgrades and repairs that improve efficiency and comfort in existing housing stock.
Fort Worth To Relaunch Bike Share System in January
Trinity Metro shuttered its current system at the end of November and plans to relaunch with a mostly-electric system.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
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.
Village of Glen Ellyn
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners