For pedestrians across the tri-state region, some of the most dangerous places to walk are located near bus stops. In an analysis of Nassau County pedestrian fatalities from 2008-2010, Tri-State found that almost 83%—68 fatalities out of 82—occurred within ¼ mile of a bus stop. During the same time period in the Connecticut municipalities of New Haven, Stamford, New Britain, Waterbury, and Meriden, almost 52%—51 out of 99—of pedestrian fatalities occurred within ¼ mile of a CTTransit bus stop (see below for the data breakdown).

The clustering of pedestrian fatalities surrounding transit stations may occur because the areas tend to be pedestrian hubs. People often walk to and from transit stops, especially bus stops, and bus routes are often found along arterial roads whose design is a leading cause of pedestrian fatalities in the region.

Models for Improving Pedestrian Safety Near Transit

Both New York City and New Jersey have programs that address pedestrian safety in the areas that surround transit stations. The New York City Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to Transit program works to improve pedestrian safety near mass transit, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets to Transit program targets grants to municipalities interested in promoting greater transit use through safer access. These programs will become even more important as transit use in the region grows. New York City’s subway ridership is at its highest point since 1950 and New Jersey’s transit systems just had banner years.

To address these fatalities around transit, Tri-State calls on the New York State and Connecticut Departments of Transportation to create new Safe Routes to Transit programs to help foster safer access to transit stops.

The Data