The city of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) worked with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and a group of local stakeholders – including the Complete Streets Advisory Committee – to create its first pedestrian safety action plan.
“This plan is a roadmap that provides a holistic approach for implementation of strategies and actions to improve safety and access for people walking in the city,” said DOMI Director, Karina Ricks.
The plan is part of the city’s five mobility goals, which include:
- no one dies or is seriously injured on city streets;
- everyone can access fresh fruit and vegetables within 20 minutes of home without a private vehicle;
- trips of less than one mile are easy and enjoyable by non-auto travel;
- no household must spend more than 45% of income on housing, transportation and energy; and,
- streets will reflect the city’s values and pride.
Using a detailed analysis of local crash data, the plan identifies critical pedestrian safety issues; locations with a higher risk for pedestrian crashes; specific actions that DOMI will undertake; and, metrics for monitoring performance over time. It contains 10 priority strategies and actions to improve pedestrian safety to be implemented over the next few years. Strategies include slowing down traffic, pedestrian and driver education – starting in elementary school – and improving road and sidewalk conditions. DOMI will be required to measure and report on its implementation progress at least once a year.
“We need to educate people,” said Complete Streets Advisory Committee member, John Tague. “It’s not always about enforcement. Enforcement could be a piece of it, but a small piece of it, and you want people to be educated.”