The Washington State Department of Transportation recently released a transportation strategy and needs assessment plan for people who bike, walk and roll in the state.
“Active transportation plays an essential role in a fully multimodal transportation system,” Roger Millar, secretary of transportation, said. “Almost 30 percent of the trips we take each day are less than a mile in length, yet we often drive because there is no safe alternative. We need to make it safer for people who are just trying to cross the street or ride their bike to school or work or to the store. With this plan, we’ve pointed the way to where and how we could invest in the system that works for everyone, no matter how they get around.”
The plan, Washington State Active Transportation Plan 2020 and Beyond, was released in two parts. Part one was released in May.
Highlights include the need for accessible pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, and the need for pedestrian-scale lighting and crossing visibility, as well as designs that help people drive at the appropriate speed.
In addition, it emphasizes engineering approaches that acknowledge humans make mistakes and that crashes with greater force are more deadly. Also, te plan estimates the environmental, health and economic benefits when people shift from driving to walking or cycling.