Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's First District issued the following statement on today's release of the "Dangerous by Design" report from the National Complete Streets Coalition. The report ranked the Las Vegas metropolitan area as the 13th most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians in the country.
"The rise of pedestrian fatalities on our roadways is an epidemic that requires immediate attention. In the Las Vegas Valley, we continue to see accidents and deaths on area streets and roads. The senseless injury and loss of life require a community effort. As a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I am working to strengthen policies that improve safety for all users. That is why I am an original champion of implementing a "Complete Streets" planning policy which will require transportation projects to take into account issues like connectivity, multi-modal use, and future growth.
"In regions like Southern Nevada where we have seen rapid population growth, our infrastructure has struggled to keep up with use. Too often decisions on which projects to support do not reflect our local needs and rapidly changing demographics. Accordingly, I am working on legislation that will empower local businesses, travel and tourism authorities, and other community stakeholders to help decide what investments we should be making in our states. By broadening the representation in the decision-making process, we can focus on how best to move people and goods safely and efficiently."
"Dangerous by Design 2014" is a report by the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America. The National Complete Street Coalition is made up of a wide variety of organizations, including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the American Public Transportation Association, as well as the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Association of City Transportation Officials, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the American Planning Association, and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.