The Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety recently awarded $25,000 to the Phoenix Street Transportation Department to support its on-going bicycle and pedestrian safety programs.
The funding will be used to purchase bicycle helmets for students who participate in the city’s annual bike-to-school events and LED stop sign paddles for crossing guards stationed at high-traffic locations citywide. These funds will also be used to enhance pedestrian and bicycle awareness through educational materials and a public safety campaign.
“The safety of the community is a top priority and is an integral part of the city’s new Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan,” Pedestrian Safety Coordinator Mailen Pankiewicz said. “We’re grateful and excited to receive this support from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. It will help us continue providing safety awareness and education to all users of Phoenix streets.”
The resources funded by the grant will help to support strategies outlined in the comprehensive Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan that was unanimously approved by Phoenix City Council in September 2022. That plan will guide the city to a goal of reducing the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Phoenix to zero by 2050, including benchmarks of a 25 percent reduction by 2027 and a 65 percent reduction by 2035. The plan is available at Phoenix.gov/RoadSafety.
The Street Transportation Department also is in the process of developing an Active Transportation Plan, which will establish a framework to improve infrastructure for walking, biking, and using e-scooters and other micromobility devices in Phoenix. A live virtual public meeting was held on December 5, 2022, to discuss the draft plan with the community. Residents can watch a video recording of that meeting, read the draft plan and participate in a survey by visiting Phoenix.gov/Streets/ATP. The survey will be open through January 8, 2023.
Additional resources about bicycle and pedestrian safety guidelines, and programs are available on the Street Transportation Department’s Safety Topics webpage.
