DOT - Effective Community-Based Pedestrian Safety Program - MRAS

The Department of Transportation (DOT), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to enhance pedestrian safety across communities in the United States. This initiative is spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a key operating mode of DOT, whose mission focuses on saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing traffic-related health care and economic costs. The project aims to address the alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities and injuries, as data from 2022 indicates a rise in such incidents compared to previous years.

The project seeks to develop an evidence-based implementation guide specifically designed for community-based organizations that focus on pedestrian safety programming. This guide will be rooted in NHTSA's "Countermeasures That Work," offering a comprehensive how-to approach for selecting effective, science-based traffic safety countermeasures tailored to specific community needs. The goal is to empower communities with the tools and training necessary to plan, implement, promote, sustain, and evaluate pedestrian safety programs effectively.

Key objectives of this initiative include assessing community needs, identifying partners and data sources, evaluating costs and time requirements, raising awareness about pedestrian safety issues, ensuring program sustainability, and maintaining affordability. Additionally, the guide aims to incorporate evaluation mechanisms into the planning process to refine future efforts based on community feedback. A particular focus will be placed on overcoming transportation safety barriers faced by communities of color or other underserved and marginalized groups.

Potential stakeholders involved in this project encompass a wide range of organizations including State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs), public health entities, schools and educators, law enforcement agencies, hospitals and healthcare organizations, local officials, faith-based groups, and other community-based organizations dedicated to improving pedestrian safety. By engaging these diverse stakeholders and leveraging their insights and resources, NHTSA aims to foster safer walking environments that contribute positively to public health while addressing broader societal challenges such as climate change.