FHWA releases bike and pedestrian case studies

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently released the most recent phase of its "Case Studies in Delivering Safe, Comfortable and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks." 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been collaborating with planners, safety advocates and local as well as state departments of transportation to evaluate safety assessments and create strategies. The goal is to establish ways to make traveling safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The case studies involved bicyclists and pedestrians in their networks, helping leaders create better approaches to improving their safety.

The examples studied include Springfield, Mo., created a network that joined sidewalks, greenways and bicycle routes; Connecticut's Farmington Valley Trails Council made trails and shared-use paths that are designed to turn a water transportation route into a sanctuary; New Orleans updated Esplanade Avenue with resurfacing, streetscaping and road diets; and Michigan added pedestrian as well as bicycle features to Lake Lansing Road Bridge, which is part of a cloverleaf interchange.

There were 86 case studies in all, with six of them being statewide, 21 regional and 59 local. These were divided into separate categories, such as planning, prioritization, corridor improvements, on-road facilities, bridges, shared-use paths, crossing improvements and intersections.