Little Rock Secures Million in Funding for Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements
In a significant step towards enhancing road safety, Little Rock has been awarded million by the U.S. Department of Transportation for critical infrastructure improvements focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety. This substantial investment will target major transit corridors, bolstering the city’s efforts to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on its streets.
The city had identified several danger-prone areas, including John Barrow Road, Chicot Road, South University Avenue, Geyer Springs Road, and the intersection of 12th Street and Woodrow, which scored above 70 on the safety risk assessment. These corridors have seen numerous crashes and fatalities between 2018 and 2022, prompting the need for comprehensive upgrades that prioritize multiple modes of traffic.
The planned improvements include enhancements to lighting and signalization, upgraded bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and lane reconfigurations. These measures aim to reduce traffic speeds, increase visibility, and make the urban environment safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Over the next 15 years, Little Rock aims to reduce crashes with serious injury or death by 40%, a significant step towards creating a more livable city.
- Key Improvement Areas:
- Lighting and signalization upgrades
- Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure enhancements
- Lane reconfigurations and road diets to slow traffic
- Implementation of USLIMITS2 to establish safe speed limits
