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TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

November 2001

Making Streets Safe For Pedestrians
drawing by Bud Peen
Crossing the street should not qualify as a death-defying feat, but too often in the Bay Area, pedestrians take their lives in their hands when they step off a curb. According to a report issued last year by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, three of the top five most dangerous counties for pedestrians in California are in the Bay Area: Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo. The study also revealed that in 1999, San Francisco experienced the greatest pedestrian share of traffic-related deaths of any county in the state.

Concern about these sobering statistics led MTC to sponsor a "Regional Pedestrian Safety Summit" in Oakland last month.

The 90 or so people attending the morning meeting were asked to review draft proposals developed over the past nine months by the MTC-led Regional Pedestrian Safety Task Force. In formulating its proposals, the task force looked at the experience of cities and counties around the region.

"While each local community needs to develop its own program," said Jeff Georgevich, MTC's project manager for pedestrian safety, "MTC can act as an information clearinghouse and a regional resource."

By the end of the workshop, the participants had refined the task force proposals into a series of recommendations calling for improved accident data-gathering and analysis; a technical assistance program in which experts hired by MTC could help local agencies analyze and solve safety issues; a Web-based resource guide on pedestrian safety programs, studies and the like; education and advocacy pertaining to pedestrian safety laws; and identification of secure, long-term funding for pedestrian safety programs. The recommendations also call for establishing a permanent interagency panel to deal with pedestrian safety issues.

MTC has budgeted $100,000 in the current fiscal year for implementing a regional pedestrian safety program. In addition, local jurisdictions can apply for grants from the Safe Routes to School program, which the state Legislature just renewed to the tune of approximately $20 million a year statewide for three years.

Recommendations from the Pedestrian Safety Task Force will be considered for inclusion in the Final 2001 Regional Transportation Plan in December.

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