FHWA Supports:
Conducting a simple assessment can be an effective first step in beginning a conversation about how to improve walking and bicycling networks. The national assessments effort confirms and reflects the benefits that assessments can provide at many levels, including the ability to influence policies, planning, and funding; educate and engage a wide range of stakeholders; and build diverse partnerships to support safe walking and bicycling.
The assessments provided opportunities for community, local, State, and Federal stakeholders to work together to address pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns in a variety of environments and locations. Many assessments noted that while the assessment was useful at a site level, it was also valuable in establishing more cohesive and collaborative working relationships between various stakeholders going forward. For example, the Maryland assessment identified an opportunity for better data sharing among agencies and stakeholders; the Maryland State Highway Administration maintains relevant data that other stakeholders did not necessarily know existed. As a result of the assessment in Louisiana, the State DOT invited the FHWA Division Office to give a presentation at the Statewide Traffic Operations Engineer's meeting on the assessment and performing roadway safety audits for non-motorized users. In Ohio, as a result of the assessment, the State DOT is planning to create a pedestrian/bicycle subcommittee of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) steering committee, and provide training to local public agencies on how to conduct multi-discipline pedestrian and bicycle safety assessments.
The assessments also helped to develop a common understanding of various challenges and thereby build partnerships to support addressing them. In Arkansas, a community visioning meeting was held in the evening after the assessment to discuss the vision for the corridor, where a regional arts center (drawing 5,000 to 7,000 visitors per year) is planned. The success of the arts center plan would rely on good pedestrian and bicycle access, and the assessment results have clearly articulated needs for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements in the downtown area. Based on the discussion of these needs, that evening the City Council approved funds for a Master Pedestrian and Biking Trail Plan.
Many locations noted opportunities to incorporate assessment findings into upcoming planning efforts and project scoping, including a regional pedestrian and bicycle plan in Puerto Rico and a roadway safety project in North Carolina.
Based on the previous evidence of the value of assessments and the positive feedback coming out of this effort, U.S. DOT encourages Federal, State, and local staff to continue to conduct assessments (see Appendix 1 for guidance on how to conduct an assessment). The U.S DOT recognizes assessments as a valuable way to gather information needed to address other priorities related to multi-modal transportation connectivity, accessibility for people with disabilities, access to essential services for communities of color, and promoting sustainable transportation policies and practices.
Through the Safer People, Safer Streets: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative, U.S. DOT continues to work in parallel on:
Safer Communities, providing resources and outreach to elected officials, staff, and other stakeholders at the local government level, to increase awareness of community pedestrian and bicycle safety needs, and encourage support for improved physical infrastructure, and policies for walking, driving, and biking;
Safer Streets, working with transportation practitioners to promote culture change, increase awareness of use of infrastructure to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, and expand transportation practitioner use and awareness of existing resources; and
Safer Policies, working with policymakers, advocates, researchers, and other thought leaders to share knowledge on innovative approaches to improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, and identify solutions to policy barriers that impede safer road user behaviors and infrastructure planning.
It is clear that there is great interest and enthusiasm around the country for working collaboratively to promote safe walking and bicycling, as evidenced by this assessments activity and also by the activities of the more than 234 communities that have signed on to Secretary Foxx's Mayors' Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets. These mayors and other local elected officials are leading their communities by proactively forming local action teams to advance safety and accessibility, through the Challenge activities, which are meant to address many of the infrastructure and policy and coordination barriers outlined in this report.
The U.S. DOT is excited to collaborate with so many longstanding and new partners, as we continue to conduct outreach, research, and new ways to work together to ensure that residents of all communities, regardless of age, race, national origin, income, or disability status, have access to safe walking and bicycling opportunities.
