From the Orange County Newsroom
In recent years, Central Florida has had the dubious distinction of being one of the deadliest regions in the country for pedestrians. Still, Orange County engineers and planners are working hard to change that narrative.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that accidents involving pedestrians account for nearly 17 percent of all traffic fatalities annually. A whopping 74 percent of these accidents occur without an intersection.
Providing a place where pedestrians can safely cross and, if necessary, take refuge from vehicle traffic can help improve a corridor's overall safety. According to the Federal Highway Administration, pedestrian refuge islands reduce over half of all pedestrian accidents.
“Installing pedestrian refuge islands can significantly improve safety by shortening the street crossing distance for pedestrians,” said Humberto Castillero, Manager, Orange County Public Works Department, Traffic Engineering Division. “It also serves as a safe space while someone is crossing a road without substantial traffic delays”
Orange County has adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan and dedicated $100 million in funding to make roads safer through the Accelerated Transportation Safety Program. Over the last few years, the County has studied more than a dozen roadway corridors, emphasizing pedestrian safety improvements.
“The approval of Vision Zero Action Plan solidifies Orange County’s commitment to meeting the goal of eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on our roads,” said Chief Engineer Kelly Nowell, Orange County Public Works.
Recent pedestrian safety improvement projects include Pine Hills Road, Oak Ridge Road, Rio Grande Avenue, and the area around the University of Central Florida, which is scheduled for completion this year. Each of these projects combines measures to increase safety, including pedestrian refuge islands.
“These projects signal a shift in philosophy from the past. Fatalities and serious injuries impact our families and our community. This philosophy helps us shift our mindset to designing roads for safety ahead of capacity”, said Nowell.
For more information on the Accelerated Transportation Safety Program, go to www.ocfl/AcceleratedTransportation.