MetroPlan Vulnerable Road Users' Safety Action Plan Presentation
 

MetroPlan has completed data analysis for the Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) Safety Action Plan. VRUs are people who walk, bicycle and roll. MetroPlan analyzed data for the region over a 7-year period from 2017 -2023. Trends among people involved in VRU crashes, particularly serious injury and fatal crashes, were analyzed to inform local jurisdictions of safety issues and trends related to VRUs and to encourage prioritizing Transportation Safety in our roadway network and project selection. Historical trends across the nation, state, and local jurisdictions have seen an upward trend in pedestrian-related crashes and fatalities. The Flagstaff Region is on the same path. Pedestrian crashes in the region account for 52% and bicyclists for 48% of all VRU crashes.

Data analysis found that roadways that contribute to the most VRU crashes are:
• Milton Rd.
• E. Route 66
• Woodlands Village
• Butler Ave.

Staff identified the following areas of emphasis to guide strategies and actions to reduce or eliminate serious injuries and fatalities through the analysis process:

• Reduce potential for conflict between users
• Slow vehicle speeds
• Encourage safer practices among people driving, walking, and bicycling
• Improve data collection and analysis
• Support institutional commitment to Vision Zero

MetroPlan continues to evaluate and provide recommendations on the following as part of the overall VRU planning process. Many of these documents have been drafted and further conversations will take place with the Technical Advisory Committee and Executive Board:

• Leadership Commitment: The VRU will establish MetroPlan’s commitment to Vision Zero.
• Policy: Policy review and recommendations of MetroPlan’s federally mandated planning and policy documents.
• Public Engagement: Efforts will focus on reaching disparate communities, people, or organizations that support folks with disabilities, unsheltered, and people who rely on non-vehicle modes for daily travel.
• Project Identification: Project recommendations will be provided to each agency within the region with a focus on 2-5 years of implementation efforts while folding in the findings and recommendations provided in the Regional Transportation Safety Plan (RTSP) and Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP). Additionally, this effort will identify safety-related strategies that MetroPlan can deliver, with an anticipated focus on programmatic and educational efforts.

MetroPlan staff engaged its partners during its annual Strategic Advance on February 11, 2025. During the Advance, Metroplan established its commitment to Vision Zero to better inform future policies, standards, and project selection that emphasize VRU safety in the region.

The Vulnerable Road Users' Safety Action Plan is funded through a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning grant awarded to MetroPlan.