ITE Talks Transportation

This new podcast episode captures highlights from the well-attended Equity 101 technical session at the Joint ITE International and Midwestern/Great Lakes Districts Annual Meeting and Exhibit. Veronica O. Davis, a speaker during the session, provides an overview and insight into equity and transportation.

Robert Wunderlich, Director of the Center for Transportation Safety at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, discusses his perspectives on pedestrian safety strategies, speed management, and proven safety countermeasures as the transportation industry seeks to achieve Vision Zero.

Andrew P. Tarko, Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of Center for Road Safety, Purdue University and Franz Loewenherz from the City of Bellevue, WA, USA, discuss surrogate measures of safety and how they help Vision Zero strategies.

Andrew P. Tarko, Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of Center for Road Safety, Purdue University and Franz Loewenherz from the City of Bellevue, WA, USA, discuss surrogate measures of safety and how they tie into Vision Zero strategies.

This month's episode explores road safety strategies with Dr. David Harkey, President of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Dr. Harkey previously directed the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, and the majority of his work has focused on improving roadway design and operations for all users, including motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. He discusses the new IIHS study that highlights rising pedestrian deaths and points toward solutions.

The Road to Zero Coalition, managed by the National Safety Council, released a comprehensive report in April laying out strategies to end roadway deaths in the U.S. by 2050. It is the first time so many organizations have collaborated to put forth a plan to address motor vehicle fatalities. Road to Zero Coalition Chair Debbie Hersman and ITE Executive Director Jeff Paniati discuss the strategies and concepts outlined in the report.

Matthew Dyrdahl, Minneapolis, MN bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, Amber Dallman, Minnesota Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, and Sarah Stewart, senior public health specialist with the Minneapolis Health Department talk about the intersection of active transportation and health in Minneapolis and beyond in Minnesota. Sponsored by Miovision.

Megan Wier, MPH is director of the program on Health, Equity and Sustainability in the Environmental Health Branch at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, where she and her team develop and apply innovative approaches to using health data and evidence to inform safe, sustainable and equitable planning and policy in collaboration with local communities and government agencies. Megan co-chairs the San Francisco Vision Zero Task Force and oversees comprehensive, collaborative data systems in support of evaluation, monitoring and analysis of San Francisco’s evidence-based transportation injury prevention initiatives.

Lauren Blackburn, AICP, brings her perspective to the health and transportation discussion based upon her more than 14 years of experience in multimodal and long-range planning, with key areas of interest in bicycle and pedestrian transportation, comprehensive planning, roadway safety, and community health. Lauren oversaw the development of Watch for Me North Carolina (NC), a statewide bicycle and pedestrian safety program, and managed the state’s first comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle plan – Walk Bike NC.