Each year, over 34,000 motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists die as the result of traffic collisions in the United States. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities represent about 15% of total traffic fatalities. During the past 10 years, the United States has averaged almost 5,000 pedestrian and bicycle fatalities per year or one every two hours. Pedestrian and bicycle safety continues to be a challenge to many communities, and therefore, improved pedestrian and bicycle safety has been among the top priorities. Pedestrian and bicycle safety assessment studies are one approach to improving pedestrian safety within these communities, because they enable local agencies to systematically identify the issues and problems and effective remedial options.

This webinar describes the pedestrian and bicycle safety assessment study process and provides guidelines for transportation professionals conducting such studies. While this webinar uses the experience gained in specific communities, the methods described are applicable to communities throughout the United States. Webinar participants should use both national and locally adopted standards, practices, or references as needed as well as those resources identified in this webinar.

Since trails are often community focal points, crime on the trail can be perceived differently than crime on the street-it may generate more attention that prevents or inhibits use on trails.

While studies have shown that trails themselves do not generate crime, in many urban areas, perceived safety is serious, and even the perception of trail safety creates a stigma for trails as a public facility. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a proactive crime fighting technique in which the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear of and incidents of crime.

Using a multi-disciplinary, multi-pronged approach to trail planning and design, law enforcement, landscape architects, city planners, and resident volunteers can create a climate of safety on trails. This session will explore methods to enhancing trail security and safety perceptions through environmental design.

Presenters will discuss tackling CPTED design strengths and challenges, using programs and partnerships, and the nuts and bolts of safety audits, corridor assessments, and design review.

TRB will conduct a webinar on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM that features research from the  National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)'s Project 08-36, which resulted in a TRB project  report.

This webinar will discuss the changing mobility patterns of teens and young adults and the linkages to economic, social, and health effects. The presenters will highlight current best practices in transportation planning that addresses youth mobility and will identify potential strategies to better align planned and existing transportation systems with the needs of this demographic.

When designing streets and intersections for bicyclists and pedestrians, communities can take advantage of a growing toolbox of treatments that promote the safety and comfort of nonmotorized road users. During this webinar, panelists will share information about how new and innovative traffic control devices can be tested and evaluated, even if they aren't currently included in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Bill DeSantis (VHB) will share an overview of the MUTCD experimentation process, highlighting the importance of testing new countermeasures and providing details for communities interested in experimenting with new and innovative designs. Dave Kirschner (Federal Highway Administration) will help agencies navigate the range of allowable designs and treatments in the MUTCD, from adopted traffic control devices to those with interim approval. He will highlight the experience of testing the  two-stage turn box for bicyclists, which was recently granted interim approval.

To discuss opportunities for the local, tribes, and federal land management agencies to consider the EDC 4 Traffic Incident Management  initiative into daily practices.  This is an opportunity to have a hands-on discussion on how TIM can be useful for the community.

 

Part II:  Attendees will bridge TIM Program actions and strategies with training by learning about the National Responder Training Program taught throughout the country.