THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
A sincere thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the 2024 Texas Pedestrian Safety Forum!
We had attendees from national, state, regional, and local transportation agencies, law enforcement agencies, non-profit and advocacy groups, public health professionals, and research organizations! Thank you so much to everyone who attended, participated, and engaged!
FINAL FORUM AGENDA (pdf)
9:00 – 9:45: INTRODUCTION AND OPENING KEYNOTE
Speakers:
- Elizabeth Jones, Pedestrian & Bicycle Program Manager, Texas Department of Transportation
- Becky Walker, Regional Program Manager, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Ugonna Ughanze, Director of Transportation Operations, Texas Department of Transportation, Houston District
10:00 – 11:00: SESSION TRACK 1
Charting the Road Ahead: Vision Zero Successes and Challenges in Texas
Hear updates on Vision Zero activities from cities throughout the state of Texas who are committed to eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in their communities. Our speakers will discuss the unique challenges faced by transportation safety leaders in El Paso, Austin, and Houston. They will share the innovative approaches that are being taken to address these challenges as well as share plans for future activities and initiatives.
Speakers:
- Joel Meyer, Acting Transportation Safety Officer, City of Austin
- Jay Blazek Crossley, Executive Director, Farm&City
- Patrick Mandapaka, Director of Community Resilience & Transportation Planning, Harris County
Empowering Tomorrow’s Pedestrians in Tackling Rising Fatalities: A Collaborative Approach for Education and Youth Leadership in Pedestrian Safety
Join our interactive session dedicated to amplifying youth voices in pedestrian safety. Explore how youth, educational developers, and practitioners collaboratively address rising pedestrian fatalities while fostering educational and youth leadership opportunities. Discover the digital prowess, social influence, and community engagement of young individuals as catalysts for change. Featuring a diverse panel representing various perspectives, including a youth activist, educational program developers, and safety experts. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore innovative approaches for creating safer streets by incorporating the voices and ideas of our youth.
Speakers:
- Christine Yager, Teens in the Driver Seat, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
- Esmerelda Guttierez, U in the Driver Seat, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
- Myungoon Ko, Research Engineer, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
A New Model for Complete Streets: Designing Walkable Environments through a Crime Prevention Lens
How do streets and crime intersect? Learn how approaching street design through the lens of crime prevention can create new streams of dialog with the community, elected officials, and law enforcement to support safer streets for all. Staff from Harris County Precinct 4 will discuss the utilization of crime prevention resources to rebuild streets that improve pedestrian safety in the Houston region.
Speakers:
- Jessica Wiggins, Senior Planner, Harris County
- Sandra Rodríguez, President, Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council
11:15 – 12:15: SESSION TRACK 2
Implementing Safe and Equitable Pedestrian Infrastructure: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned
As transportation agencies throughout the United States undergo efforts to improve pedestrian safety, several factors contribute to the equitable implementation of these initiatives. There are a variety of success stories, such as the prioritization of safety projects in communities that have traditionally experienced underinvestment. However, disparity still exists with respect to pedestrian safety. Our panel of experts will share important context and background regarding equitable pedestrian safety, as well as the successes and challenges that practitioners and advocates continue to face in our effort to implement an inclusive and equitable transportation system.
Speakers:
- Veronica Davis, Equity Expert and Author, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities
- Geoff Carleton, Senior Principal, TEI Planning + Design
- Amar Mohite, Deputy Director, Capital Planning, Harris County Toll Road Authority
Guidance and Resources for Increasing Safety and Visibility for all Pedestrians
Explore the essentials of pedestrian safety and countermeasures in urban environments. Delve into Complete Streets design, emphasizing pedestrian safety while accommodating different transportation modes. Learn about key traffic safety measures, including crosswalk enhancements and signal timing adjustments. Discover the importance of strategic lighting for visibility and security. Gain practical insights to advocate for safer, pedestrian-friendly streets in your community.
Speakers:
- George Merritt, Senior Safety and Geometric Design Engineer, Federal Highway Administration
- Millie Hayes, Safety & Traffic Operations Specialist, Federal Highway Administration
Data-Driven Pedestrian Safety Analysis
Explore the intricacies of data-driven safety analysis through a detailed examination of Safer Streets Priority Finder—an open-source web tool specifically designed to identify high-risk areas for vulnerable road users. Through a comprehensive demonstration, the functionalities of the tool will be unveiled, accompanied by a discussion on its implications for agencies responsible for road safety management. This session promises to shed light on cutting-edge methodologies in road safety analysis, emphasizing the utilization of robust data-driven approaches. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the transformative potential of Safer Streets Priority Finder and its role in enhancing safety initiatives on our roads.
Speakers:
- Nan Jiang, Data Science Practice Lead, Toole Design Group
- Namoo Han, Senior Professional Engineer, City of Fort Worth
1:00 – 1:30: SPECIAL LUNCHTIME SESSION
Resilience and Reform: Personal Narratives Inspiring Change
Leticia R. Van de Putte, Former Member of the Texas State Senate
Join us for “Resilience and Reform: Personal Narratives Inspiring Change,” where personal experiences ignite transformative action. Through powerful storytelling, former Texas State Senate member Leticia Van de Putte shares her journey of resilience and reform, shedding light on the profound impact of personal narratives in driving social change. Discover how individual experiences can galvanize movements, spark conversations, and inspire meaningful reform. Gain invaluable insights into the power of storytelling as a catalyst for positive societal transformation. Join us for an enlightening session that explores the intersection of personal resilience and collective reform, leaving you inspired to make a difference in your community.
1:30 – 2:30: FORUM KEYNOTE
Narrowing Lanes, Saving Lives: Several Pathways linking Street Design to Health and Safety
Shima Hamidi, Bloomberg Assistant Professor & Director of the Center for Climate-Smart Transportation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
In 2021, 42,915 deaths from car crashes were reported in the US, making fatalities a leading cause of death for people within the ages of 1 to 54. The U.S. exhibits by far the highest traffic fatality rates among developed counties with about 11.67 fatalities, compared to only 1.3 to 3.2 deaths per 100,000 population in European cities. The safety statistics are even more striking for pedestrian and cyclists. The year 2020 marked the deadliest year for pedestrians in 40 years. Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have increased more than 40 percent just from 2010 to 2020. One key reason for such high rates of traffic fatalities has to do with our decades of car-oriented street design practices. This keynote highlights some of these practices, particularly related to travel lane width as one of the most controversial street design characteristics. We will discuss whether wider lanes are safer than their narrower counterparts; why American streets are so wide; and what are the easiest and most cost-effective solutions to making them more livable, multi-modal and safe for everyone including pedestrians and cyclists as the most vulnerable street users.
2:45 – 3:45: SESSION TRACK 3
Interagency Coordination to Improve Pedestrian Safety in Houston: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Join us for a session where local transportation agencies discuss their collaboration in developing safe pedestrian facilities in Houston. Presenters will share lessons learned and best practices for interagency coordination to improve pedestrian safety. The session features brief presentations followed by a moderated discussion, offering valuable insights and fostering collaborative approaches to enhance pedestrian safety in urban settings.
Speakers:
- Virginia Lynn, Senior Staff Analyst, City of Houston
- James Keener, Houston District, Texas Department of Transportation
- Ramona Crayton, Transit Safety Education Manager, Metropolitan Transit Authority
Increasing Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity between Urban and Suburban Communities
While many of the discussions about pedestrian safety focus on facilities in urban areas, there are several excellent examples of planners in Texas enhancing pedestrian safety in suburban communities. Join us as we hear about several initiatives in Houston and Dallas that are creating safe pedestrian connections between suburban and urban communities through new trails, parkland, as well as though the retrofitting of existing infrastructure. Presenters will share best practices for funding approaches as well as lessons learned from retrofitting existing suburban neighborhoods with limited pedestrian facilities.
Speakers:
- Luis Guajardo, Director of Planning and Community Development, Harris County
- Philip Hiatt Haigh, Executive Director, The Loop Dallas
Introduction to the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
This session aims to delve into the newly released Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) in depth, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of its key standards. Discover how these guidelines can be effectively applied in various urban planning and infrastructure projects, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all individuals. Gain valuable insights from presenters who will not only provide practical applications but also advocate for the importance of accessibility in public spaces. Learn how to become a proactive advocate for accessibility in your community, fostering environments that are welcoming and accommodating to everyone.
Speakers: