News

Scores of cities are eager to build safer streets for all of their residents, but many also quickly discover the plethora of barriers that make it difficult to change years of practice. Our new Safe Streets Academy, announced today, is bringing together three jurisdictions in a collaborative environment to explore how to overcome those barriers and develop strategies for improving safety for all users of the street.

Nationwide, the number of people struck and killed by cars while walking or bicycling has continued to rise. Proven countermeasures in street design and engineering have the potential to improve safety on our streets for all users of the street network, regardless of age, ability, income, race, or mode of transportation. But how can cities leverage these countermeasures and make people safer?

The National Complete Streets Coalition is committed to reversing these recent trends, eliminating traffic fatalities on our streets, and equipping cities to make it all happen. As part of this effort, today we are launching a new technical assistance program to explore innovative safety interventions thanks to a Safe Systems Innovation Grant from the Road to Zero Coalition, led by the National Safety Council in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Safe Streets Academy brings together three jurisdictions to learn from national experts, collaborate with one another, and discuss best practices in engineering, tactical urbanism, creative placemaking, and community engagement.

After a very competitive application process, we are excited to announce the winners of the Safe Streets Academy:

• Orlando, FL hopes to implement groundbreaking, data-driven interventions to improve safety across their city and region. They are bringing their experience collaborating across regions and the state to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections.
• Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, KY has undertaken educational campaigns to reduce speed limits in their city. The Academy will help them take these efforts to the next level by introducing physical interventions to the street network to encourage slower speeds.
• South Bend, IN is pursuing increased safety through their Smart Streets initiative. They are excited to learn more about integrating creative placemaking into Complete Streets safety improvements and to share their experiences overcoming resistance to road diets.

Congratulations to the selected jurisdictions. We look forward to working with you in pursuit of safer streets for all users and modes of transportation!

We invite other jurisdictions and organizations interested in traffic safety to join the Road to Zero Coalition to learn more about how you can collaborate with us and work toward eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries over the next 30 years.