Siya Tayal’s Post

My latest in Streetsblog USA! "Get to Know Your MPO: An Advocate’s Guide to Some of Our Most Critical Transportation Agencies: The Metropolitan Planning Organization can have an outsized influence on local transportation decisions. Here's what every advocate needs to know about how they operate — and how to win them over." https://lnkd.in/g7CGsjmh

It's been over 10 years since I worked in the political world and organized lobby days, but on Tuesday, I joined one as a citizen. We live in the shadow of the capitol and I walk my daughter on the stairs on rainy days, but it felt different to be back in the bustle of the legislative session. We were there to ask for legislation to make our streets safer for all users -- pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, those in wheelchairs, elderly individuals, children, skateboarders, etc. -- esp. those that are vulnerable, like my 3-year-old daughter when she tries to cross the street on the way to the capitol. The legislative asks of this group are depressingly small -- that's the state of our roads, of how we have organized the physical layout of our asphalt-centered neighborhoods. You can't quickly undo 70 years of taking public space away from people and giving it to cars, so, the coalition is asking for things that are so easy that it feels almost ridiculous to have to ask: - $10 million for complete streets projects (a drop in the bucket in NYS) - Sammy's Law, which would allow NYC to lower its speed limit below 25mph if it wants to (yes, you read that right -- currrently, state law makes illegal for NYC, the most pedestrian-trafficked city in the country, to have a speed limit of 10 or even 15 anywhere, at all). Hopefully these pass. Hopefully many more laws pass that change what our roadways look like. Hopefully our streets can one day again be public spaces for people, where we can gather and feel safe and build community with other humans that live around us. If you live in New York State and your organization cares about keeping vulnerable road users safe, you can join the coalition through the below link.

As of today the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's Street Smart NJ Pedestrian Safety Program has reached 257 organizations since we started in 2013. Some communities have participated in Street Smart NJ activities several times while others have participated just once but we have reached at least one community in EVERY NJ County! We encourage all of our partners to follow us on social media to share our safety posts. Please encourage your community to get involved for the first time or restart your pedestrian safety program by participating in additional Street Smart NJ activities. We have added messaging to include all Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) to help bring attention to NJ's Save Passing Law (SPL) The Safe Passing Law requires drivers to use “due caution” whenever they see vulnerable people on the road. The law states that: Drivers must follow all current no passing, no speeding laws AND move over a lane if there’s one to move into. On a single-lane road, drivers must allow at least a 4-foot safety zone when they pass. If 4 feet is not possible on a section of road, drivers must slow to 25 mph and be prepared to stop until they can pass safely without endangering those sharing the road. Below is a complete list of participating organizations listed by County. Contact me to learn more- [email protected]

Speeding up improvements in safety using Federal dollars is a good idea. Any of these types of change are always going to have opposition, there are not many things everyone agrees on. Hopefully, people can agree that we need to try new ideas to improve #roadsafety. . Those that work well should be expanded, those that don't should be removed. https://lnkd.in/gDS2pF8b

Is Georgia on your mind? We have moved from the top 10 states people are moving to, into the Top 5 states for inbound migration. Main reason being 'cost of living' and jobs. Our interstates reflect this attraction daily during rush hour. Top states the newcomers are moving here from are California (15K ppl last year), Texas, North Carolina, Florida......#PeachStateProgress #GeorgiaonmyMind #SelectGeorgia #Claytonconnected #1StateForBusiness and Residential apparently:-)

Task Force Meets to Address the Future of California Transit: California's Transit Transformation Task Force must address a wide range of issues. Here are three that are crucial, from the perspective of one of the task force members. Read more: https://bit.ly/3RFKf0U

AARP Government Affairs is pleased to share our new model Complete Streets legislation. You can download the document here: https://lnkd.in/gp3gmbk5 Too many streets lack safe places for pedestrians and cyclists. In too many places, traveling by car is the only safe way to get around. Complete Streets: Model Legislation for States and Municipalities can empower planners, government officials, local leaders, community volunteers and interested residents to advocate for and establish effective legislation that considers the needs of all roadway users. This new model incorporates 10 years of lessons learned from various safe streets initiatives and drills down on what is needed to ensure successful implementation and accountability.

I would add to this argument, that NJ has a significant competitive advantage over many other states that it is squandering. It has a significant head start against other states when it comes to building and operating mass transit. If it would just invest in that system and more transit oriented development and walkable communities, it could become the least car dependent state in the country and a magnet for those looking to live and work in places where you don't need a car. If I were governor or in charge of economic development for NJ, I would make investing in mass transit my number one priority for this reason alone. https://lnkd.in/eVHyaciE

One of San Jose’s most dangerous roads is gearing up for a major upgrade. King Road, a six-mile street bounded by Berryessa Road to the north and East Capitol Expressway to the south, is slated for improvements. The city’s transportation department is finalizing a plan that targets safety and traffic flow. From 2018 to 2023, eight people, including an infant, were killed on King Road and 21 were seriously injured due to collisions from 2018 to 2022, according to city data. The plan — funded with more than $399,000 from a Caltrans grant and more than $51,700 from the city — will be a collaboration between the City of San José and VISION ZERO , a program aimed at reducing and ending traffic injuries and fatalities. The draft includes improvements for the entire street, such as a median at some sections of the road, a bus and emergency vehicle-only lane and more crosswalks. The average distance between crosswalks is roughly 1,000 feet, Project Manager Wilson Tam said, which is about a five-minute walk. #transportation #sanjosecalifornia #safety

In our pursuit of making communities safer, we conducted a Road Safety Report in Florida to delve into the data behind traffic fatalities and better comprehend how to reverse this disturbing trend. Our research unearthed a sobering fact—Florida ranks as the third worst state for pedestrian traffic fatalities. Recognizing the critical need for effective solutions, Altumint is committed to its mission of enhancing community safety. One proven approach involves leveraging automated traffic enforcement technology, a powerful tool that has demonstrated success in minimizing injuries and fatalities. For a more in-depth exploration of our findings, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/gHUsecpp