2013-dot-sustainable-streets-lowres

SAFETYCrashes have fallen 60% sinceSafe Streets for Seniors wasimplemented in the Lower East SidePROTECTING VULNERABLE STREET USERSSAFE STREETS FOR SENIORSNYCDOT maintains safety programs designed specifically toimprove the safety of groups with special vulnerability in traffic.Pedestrian crossing distance significantly reduced on Fort George AvenueDOT launched Safe Streets forSeniors in 2008 to respond tothe disproportionate number ofNew Yorkers over age 65 in theCity’s traffic fatality totals. Wherepeople over 65 make up 12% ofNew York’s population, seniors onfoot represented 36% of trafficfatalities in 2012. Safe Streetsfor Seniors aims to counter thisimbalance, and has succeededin reducing the city–wide ratesince 2008, with marked gain insome districts.The effort began by combiningdemographic analysis with dataon intersection and corridor crashhistories to identify districtswhere senior pedestrians aremost at risk on City streets. Theinitial analysis identified 25 areasthroughout the five boroughs forpriority street redesign and otherwork. Improvements in these areasincluded 154 new pedestriansafety islands and new or expandedmedians to shorten crossingdistances and provide safe spacesfor slower moving pedestrians.DOT extended curbs at 13 pointsfor similar reasons. Another 16roadway segments were narrowedwith new markings, includingpainted medians, to calm traffic.Senior pedestrian fatalitiesin the City are down since theprogram was launched. The 2012level was 18% below that in2008. Additionally, the crashesthat lead to traffic fatalities aredown significantly in many of theprogram’s focus areas. AlongRutgers Slip in the Lower East Side,crashes leading to injuries are downby 42%, while all crashes havefallen 60% since implementationof Safe Streets for Seniorsimprovements. At Bowne Street inFlushing, injuries have fallen 43%since program implementation.Sustainable Streets: 2013 and Beyond23