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New Analysis Shows Most Pedestrian Fatalities Occur Near Transit in Nassau County and Connecticut

Nassau County pedestrian fatalities within 1/4 mile of bus stops. Map by TSTC, created in GeoCommons, using FARS data and Long Island bus stop data from Steven Romalewski of Spatiality.

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).

Pedestrian fatalities within 1/4 mile of bus stops in New Haven, Stamford, New Britain, Waterbury, and Meriden. Map by TSTC, created in GeoCommons, using FARS data and CTTransit bus stop data.

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.

A bus stop on the Babylon Turnpike with no crosswalk in sight (the closest ones are approximately 1/2 mile away). A pedestrian was killed nearby during the period under study. | Photo: Google Street View

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

Connecticut Pedestrian Fatalities Within 1/4 mile of CT Transit Bus Stops
Number of Fatalities, 2008-2010
Child (15 years and younger) 4
Adult (16-59) 27
Senior (60 years and older) 20
Total fatalities within 1/4 mile of CT Transit bus stops 51
Total fatalities on roads where pedestrians are allowed, Connecticut-wide 99
Percentage of Connecticut pedestrian fatalities within 1/4 mile of CT Transit bus stops 51.52%
Source: Tri-State analysis of NHTSA’s FARS database

 

Nassau County Pedestrian Fatalities Within 1/4 Mile of Bus Stops
Number of Fatalities, 2008-2010
Child (15 years and younger) 1
Adult (16-59) 36
Senior (60 years and older) 31
Total fatalities within 1/4 mile of Nassau County bus stops 68
Total fatalities on roads where pedestrians are allowed, county-wide 82
Percentage of fatalities within 1/4 mile of Nassau County bus stops 82.93%
Source: Tri-State analysis of NHTSA’s FARS database
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anon
anon
12 years ago

Of course the most pedestrian deaths occur near bus stops, they’re located in the only places in the county where anyone actually walks.

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[…] week the Tri-State Transportation Campaign published an analysis of pedestrian fatalities in Nassau County and several towns in Connecticut, and noted that in […]

Leslie Weinberg
Leslie Weinberg
12 years ago

I would like Connecticut Transit and the city or whoever is in charge of placing cross-walks or traffic signals to be able to place them close together. There are some intersections where many streets come together. I asked whether the signals could remain red for a few seconds more, but was told streets are for cars to keep going.

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[…] to ensure safer access to transit along the corridor, an important step to take after a Tri-State analysis found that 83% of pedestrian fatalities in Nassau County were also occurring within a 1/4 mile of […]

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