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Countywide safety action plans kick off
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is working with six counties in northeastern Illinois to create safety action plans in response to increasing traffic fatalities — particularly among pedestrians and bicyclists — over the past several years.
What’s new? The countywide safety action plans have kicked off! Planners are establishing steering committees and community outreach strategies to understand challenges and opportunities in each county. Stay tuned for information on how you can get involved.
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Watch presentation on Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) updates
CMAP was pleased to welcome Dean Mentjes, transportation specialist on the MUTCD team at the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA), to present at our March Transportation Committee meeting. The presentation included a high-level overview of the changes in the 11th edition of the MUTCD, which have a strong focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities.
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Northeastern Illinois Priority Projects feature safety improvements
CMAP collaborated with stakeholders throughout northeastern Illinois to achieve consensus around prioritizing transportation projects for federal investment. The highest priority projects for the region are reflected in 2024 Northeastern Illinois Priority Investments, with safety featured as a top consideration. Some notable projects include:
- The I-290 Blue Line Modernization project, which will improve accessibility, mobility, and safety on transit and roads
- The Ogden Avenue Corridor Improvements Project, which will improve safety for all road users on Ogden Avenue from Pulaski Road to Roosevelt Road
- The Grand Gateway Project in Elmwood Park, which will improve safety, access, and mobility in a dangerous area where freight, Metra, vehicles, and pedestrians cross paths
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Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police, and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies are promoting Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reminding drivers to focus on the road with the "U Drive. U Text. U pay." campaign.
We encourage you to join CMAP and communities in the region in promoting these tips:
- If you are expecting a text or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location.
- Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
- Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone's "do not disturb" feature.
Messaging tip: The National Safety Council is another great resource and created a social media kit to help communities and individuals spread the message.
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Free and reduced Metra fare pilot program accepting enrollees
The Regional Transportation Authority's Access Pilot Program, which extends the current Ride Free and Reduced Fare program, is in effect until July 31, 2025. The program is available to all residents who qualify for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and live in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties.
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New federal active transportation grant accepting applications
The FWHA recently launched the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), a new competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. ATIIP will fund projects that:
- Improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of active transportation networks and communities
- Improve connectivity between active transportation modes and public transportation
- Enhance the resiliency of on- and off-road active transportation infrastructure and help protect the environment
- Improve quality of life in disadvantaged communities through the delivery of connected active transportation networks and expanded mobility opportunities
$44,550,000 is available for two categories of grants: (1) planning and design grants (must have planning and design costs of at least $100,000) and (2) construction grants (for projects costing at least $15 million).
Grant applications due via grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, on Monday, June 17.
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Grant funding available for commercial vehicle safety enhancements
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is offering more than $180 million in grants to promote commercial motor vehicle safety. These grants are open to state, territorial, and tribal organizations; local jurisdictions; academic institutions; and other training programs and entities that promote commercial vehicle safety-related activities.
Grant applications for fiscal year 2024 cycle are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, April 19, 2024.
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Ride Illinois offering mini-grants for bicycle safety quiz completion
Ride Illinois, a statewide bicycle advocacy organization, is working with IDOT to improve safety of cyclists and drivers. The organization provides mini-grants to Illinois schools of $2 per bicycle safety quiz completed (up to $2,000). This year’s grant runs until September 30, 2024 and is available for three different lessons and student audiences: Child Bicyclist Quiz, Adult Bicyclist Quiz, and Motorist/Driver Education Quiz.
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New resource helps local governments and advocates take advantage of unprecedented federal funding
The National Resources Defense Council’s new “Act Locally” resource document helps communities identify opportunities to apply for more than $3 trillion in 46 federal funding streams made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. One of the five major opportunities highlighted is “flex federal transportation funds to support safer driving and enhanced walking, biking, [and] public transit” — of which $8.6 billion is available for Illinois. The expanded flexibility of these funds means that local and state governments have a historic opportunity to use federal transportation funding for equitable and sustainable projects that address safety.
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Proposed rule change strengthens language around safety and equity
The FWHA is accepting comments on its notice of proposed rulemaking to amend regulatory language. The changes would incorporate the Safe System Approach, focus on the safety of all road users, improve evaluation and reporting, and more. These updates would advance national safety and equity priorities and help states eliminate fatalities and serious injuries. Comments must be received on or before April 22, 2024.
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Equity in Roadway Safety upcoming webinars and recordings
The FWHA’s Equity in Roadway Safety 2024 webinar series shares strategies and tools that state, regional, and local transportation agencies can use to reduce roadway fatalities and address disparities in traffic safety. The upcoming webinars will focus on equitable data analysis (May 22) and safety for people experiencing homelessness (July 24). Recordings from the 2023 Equity in Roadway Safety Webinar Series are available online and include “Tools and Strategies for Equitable Design,” “Elevating Equity and Safety in Project Prioritization,” and more.
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Traffic safety topics continue to make headlines. Here are some recent articles recommended by CMAP’s safety team:
- The FWHA’s spring 2024 Public Roads issue features an article on speed safety cameras, exploring the role of speeding in crashes and traffic fatalities, and how speed safety cameras can improve compliance and reduce speeding.
- Want more on speed cameras? Check out Smart Cities Dive’s article on the growth of automated enforcement and how cities are using the technology.
- 2023 was New York City’s safest year for pedestrians. Learn more in Bloomberg's piece about progress and frustrations ten years after the city adopted Vision Zero.
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