Austin Adds Pedestrian Improvements at Hundreds of Intersections

This summer, the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department added pedestrian safety improvements to over 640 intersections in the Texas capital, reports Kelsey Thompson for KXAN.

The changes include leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs), which give pedestrians a lead time to begin crossing before cars get a green light. National research shows LPI reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes by 13 percent, and “December 2021 data from Austin’s Vision Zero program reported an additional 18% reduction in the number of pedestrian-vehicle crashes each year involving left-turning vehicles at treated intersections.”

The new traffic signals being installed also feature accessibility improvements to assist people with visual impairment. According to Thompson, “City crews are installing the LPIs using funding from the city’s 2020 mobility bond, as well as dollars from the national Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program.”