Port of Tacoma’s Post

Despite several decades of progress, traffic-related fatalities and injuries are again, unfortunately, on the rise. Vulnerable road user fatalities are on the rise with pedestrian fatalities up 13% in 2021 compared to 2020. This is why the U.S. Department of Transportation #ITSJPO’s Intersection Safety Challenge is moving to improve safety where approximately half of all traffic injuries occur: intersections. Learn more about how the JPO prioritizes vulnerable road users during National Pedestrian Safety Month and year-round. https://its.dot.gov/isc/

Pedestrian safety is more critical than ever, as urban areas across the U.S. present varying levels of risk. It’s great to see cities making significant strides in creating safer environments for walkers, thanks to dedicated initiatives and strategic planning. Prioritizing pedestrian safety should offer a sense of security and well-being in our urban spaces. #PedestrianSafety #SafeCities #UrbanSafety

I live in the Cleveland Ohio suburb. One day I had to get to a meeting that was about 10 minutes by car. Since I don’t drive, I got public transportation directions. It would take me two hours and 12 minutes. The walking direction showed two hours and six minutes. If I assume that I don’t get to the airport too early, it is the same amount of time it takes me to fly to Washington DC. Ok, in some ways it is an apples to oranges comparison. But so is driving and public transportation. #AccessibleTravel #PublicTransportation

https://lnkd.in/dDz6J6an Useful factoid from Dan Zukowski, which is, at face value, obvious, but still useful to document and to understand. The core science behind this is that for able bodied adults in pedestrian environments (i.e. footpaths, sidewalks and pavements) we can reliably use a speed of 80m/min. In safety critical situations, such as pedestrian crossing walk times, a reduced speed should be used, typically 0.9 m/sec, being the speed exceeded by 85% of people over 65. So to compare the average crossing distance in Paris of 26 feet to the longest in Irvine of over 70 feet is to compare 7.92 m with 21.34 m, which gives times of 8.8 seconds versus 23.7 seconds. Almost three times the exposure time (2.69 times, to be precise). Compound this with the faster speeds and reduction in driver caution on wider roads and the reasons for the higher rate of pedestrian collisions (43% in Irvine) is clear. There is no mention of severity of injury in the article, but I suspect that this must be higher too on wider crossings, because higher speeds are likely. Dave George

Update: I-40 in Western North Carolina is now projected to be closed until September of 2025! I-26, north of Asheville and into Tennessee is now projected to be closed until March 2025. This means there are no interstate highways from Western North Carolina into Tennessee until next year.

HRC continues to celebrate National Pedestrian Safety Month. We're committed to safety and we’re so proud of the projects we’ve had the privilege of being involved with to bring awareness and decrease pedestrian injuries. A recent project was the installation of a HAWK in Grand Rapids. A HAWK beacon (high-intensity activated crosswalk beacon) is a traffic control device used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. It is officially known as a pedestrian hybrid beacon. The purpose of a HAWK beacon is to allow protected pedestrian crossings, stopping vehicular traffic only as needed. The HAWK beacon is a type of traffic control alternative to traffic control signals and/or where an intersection does not meet traffic signal warrants. #hrcengr #pedestriansafety #CityofGrandRapids

Next up for our #PedestrianSafetyMonth highlights is 2024 MIPS cohort member City of Jackson, TN Mayor Scott Conger! Mayor Conger shared tips for mayors looking to get started on pedestrian safety improvements in their city. “If a mayor wants to make pedestrian safety a priority in their city they just need to start having that conversation… I can guarantee you that there are others in your community that want to make pedestrian safety a priority. Finding those runners, those bicyclists, those who utilize the streets now that may not feel as safe—they have ideas. Talking with them can really get it going and get that conversation started.” Additionally, Mayor Conger emphasized that improvements in walkability and pedestrian safety don’t just benefit one group, they improve safety and the quality of life for the whole community. “If you look at young families and you look at those who are older, they need the same thing[s] with accessibility. They need sidewalks, they need ramps [to be able] to move with ease,” said Mayor Conger. “If we make travel easier for everyone, then it creates an opportunity for everyone.” Watch Mayor Conger’s full video here: https://lnkd.in/edBXke4Y. To learn more about the MIPS partnership between MIP, AARP Livable Communities, and Smart Growth America and to hear what MIPS cohort members are doing to promote safer streets in their communities, visit our Youtube channel or check out our website: bit.ly/MIPS2024! 🚶 🚲 👩🦽

The Eisenhower Interstate System "Interstate Highways use a numbering scheme in which primary Interstates are assigned one- or two-digit numbers, and shorter routes which branch off of longer ones are assigned three-digit numbers where the last two digits match the parent route." https://lnkd.in/eF5N97Q6

Most Dangerous Intersections for Pedestrians in Chicago Chicago's streets can be dangerous for pedestrians, especially at certain intersections. Statistics show that the number of pedestrians killed remains about 85 on average in America when victims are struck by a motor vehicle sharing the road, traveling through an intersection, or jumping a sidewalk. According to the advocacy group Active Transportation Alliance , the three most dangerous intersections in Chicago were Milwaukee/Damen/North; Cicero and Chicago avenues on the West Side; and Halsted Street/Lincoln Avenue/Fullerton Parkway in Lincoln Park. Understanding these danger zones is crucial for enhancing pedestrian safety. Visit our latest blog to learn more on how to stay safe and alert on roads. #pedestriansafety #legalhelp https://bit.ly/4db3WGJ

Here is the latest information regarding detours that are in place following the collapse of the Key Bridge. #KeyBridgeNews Maryland State Highway Administration Maryland Transportation Authority