The public is invited to the Pedestrian Safety Review Board’s Vision Zero Action Plan Workshop on Wednesday, October 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers in Government Center (700 Poplar Street).
“Our goal is to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in Macon-Bibb County to zero through infrastructure improvements, road safety additions, and public education,” says Gregory L. Brown, Pedestrian Safety Review Board (PSRB) Chair. “With the public’s help and input – as well as the knowledge and resources of local, state, and federal experts – we can better identify what is needed and better protect people as they walk and bike around our community.”
Representatives will be on hand from the Pedestrian Safety Review Board, Macon-Bibb Engineering Department, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Urban Development Authority, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and KLS Engineering. Presentations and discussions throughout the day will include:
- Overview of the Federal Highway Administration’s Vision Zero program;
- Overview of planned activities for downtown and intown neighborhoods;
- Current and planned initiatives for creating safer pedestrian environment;
- Current and planned engineering improvements for maintaining safe transportation network;
- Summary of crash trends in Macon-Bibb;
- Overview of the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan;
- Federal and state funding opportunities.
To RSVP for the workshop (so the Board can prepare for seating and lunch), contact Kaye Cleveland in the Clerk of Commission’s Office at either kcleveland@maconbibb.us or 478-751-7262.
About the Pedestrian Safety Review Board
Macon-Bibb currently has a very high per capita pedestrian fatality rate, and the Macon-Bibb Pedestrian Safety Review Board (PSRB) is working on ways to reduce that rate through infrastructure improvements and educational outreach.
Meeting each month, the Board establishes a forum for the Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, School District, county departments, Planning and Zoning, elected officials, AARP, and concerned citizens to develop strategies for creating a safer environment for pedestrians. To learn more about the Board, click here.
“As a community, we must make pedestrian safety a priority of our consolidated government. We have the ability to convene partners and the public in order to find the best ways to improve road safety for everyone,” says Macon-Bibb Commissioner Elaine Lucas.
It has launched an issue-specific website to help educate the public, make announcements, and seek feedback. Included on the website are: efforts and initiatives of the Board and its partners, including the adopted Vison Zero principles; announcements and media coverage of efforts; information from the first Pedestrian Safety Summit; accomplishments; and PFRB members.
Two Pedestrian Safety Summits have been held, and both were free and open to the public, and nearly 100 people – from elected officials to law enforcement to community members to department heads to partner organizations – attended them. To see pictures from the Summit, click here. The second Summit can be watched in its entirety by clicking here.
Two community outreach and education programs have also been initiated with funding from state grants: On the Move and Cross the Walk. Both attempt to reach people where they walk near roads and intersections identified as dangerous to pedestrians. Click here to watch a video of the announcement for the On the Move campaign, and click here for a MaconBibbTV feature on the campaign.