Phoenix has an exceptionally high rate of pedestrian fatalities compared to the rest of the country. It looked like the city was ready to tackle this problem, with a city staff naming 11 intersections and neighborhoods to study that had poor and unsafe pedestrian conditions. However, the citizen committee named to guide passage of a design guide to make the streets safer has become so frustrated with the lack of progress that they have quit en masse. What have other cities done when they have found themselves with a mounting pedestrian fatality rate and a reputation as a dangerous place to walk?
Phoenix
Phoenix aims for slower, more pedestrian-friendly downtown streets
A new study of transportation options in downtown Phoenix aims to improve walking, biking, and transit, as well as prioritize amenities for pedestrians, in order to revitalize the area and encourage people to spend time downtown instead of just getting in and out quickly.