Report: Pedestrian deaths rise, safety spending lags

A new Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) report says that dangerous street design and a lack of investment in pedestrian safety are to blame for an increase in pedestrian deaths nationwide. The report, "Mean Streets 2002," finds that while 12 percent of all traffic deaths are pedestrians, less than one percent of federal transportation dollars go to protecting people on foot.

The report found that nine of the top ten most dangerous metro areas are below the national average in spending of federal funds on pedestrian safety, averaging just 62 cents per person. The national average is 87 cents per person. STPP is calling for greater spending on pedestrian safety as part of the TEA-21 renewal bill, creating and funding a new national Safe Routes to School program, designing safer streets, and collecting better data on pedestrian travel.

According to the report, St. Louis is the 16th most dangerous U.S. city for pedestrians, and Kansas City is the 20th most dangerous. In Missouri, 7.8% of all traffic deaths were pedestrians but only 1.1% of all federal transportation dollars were spent on pedestrian/bicycle facilities. Missouri spends about $1.35 per resident per year on pedestrian and bicycle facilities and safety.