"Dangerous by Design" Workshop Addresses Pedestrian Safety in Sacramento Region
Post Date:11/15/2024
During the SACOG Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2024, Smart Growth America shared their Dangerous by Design 2024 road safety report, which warns that “our nation’s streets are dangerous by design, designed primarily to move cars quickly at the expense of keeping everyone safe.” The presentation shed light on the alarming pedestrian safety issues in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area, which ranks 20th in the United States for pedestrian road fatalities. Board members were urged to consider how disinvestment in certain areas contributes to safety disparities, as under-resourced neighborhoods often face inadequate infrastructure to protect pedestrians.
The session was opened with a stark statistic: the rates of pedestrian fatalities increase dramatically as the income of an area decreases. According to the report, the rate of pedestrian fatalities is disproportionately impacting underprivileged populations, specifically affecting people of color, those with disabilities, and individuals residing in low-income areas. According to Smart Growth America, the fatality rate of areas with annual median incomes between $15,000 and $25,000 is more than four times higher than in more affluent communities.
Smart Growth America’s Director of Thriving Communities, Heidi Simon, emphasized to the Board the critical need for data to understand safety disparities. Simon presented troubling statistics, revealing a 61 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities in urban areas since 2013, with California ranked as the eighth-deadliest state for pedestrians. Simon also introduced the concept of "quick-build demonstrations," which implement low-cost design changes to roadways to improve safety, highlighting successful projects that reduced vehicle speeds and enhanced community acceptance of safety measures.
The SACOG Board of Directors also heard from representatives from Civic Thread, a Sacramento-based nonprofit focused on creating healthier, accessible, and equitable communities through better urban planning and transportation advocacy. Civic Thread’s Executive Director, Kiara Reed, discussed the importance of implementing policies that match the regional initiative to make transportation more equitable and safer for pedestrians. Community Planning Specialist, David Moore, presented case studies and policy elements from the Sacramento region that demonstrate the objectives surrounding equitable transportation, highlighting priorities to integrate in future transportation planning for the area. Some of the studies and elements presented include:
Adapting equity-focused policies to the communities they serve
Quick-build solutions installed in Marysville infrastructure
The West Sacramento Sidewalks and Transportation Equity Program (STEP)
The Sacramento Transportation Priorities Plan
Board members agreed on the urgency to rethink urban design to create safer pedestrian environments. To learn more about how the report impacts the Sacramento region, watch the video below.