Mapping Opportunities to Reduce Fatal & Serious Injuries on Roadways in Austin, Texas: Engaging Young People in Action Planning to Advance Vision Zero

This one-year community-engaged assessment study aims to inform intervention planning to reduce fatal and serious injuries on roadways among higher risk communities within the Austin area.

In partnership with young adult leaders from the Montopolis community and a community planning group comprised of community partner organizations, the proposed community assessment aims to:  1.) identify individual-level and environmental-level facilitating factors and barriers for increasing safe transportation among residents in and around the Montopolis community of Austin, Texas- including active commuting (i.e., walking and biking), use of public transportation, and other transportation-related risk reduction strategies (e.g., strategies to reduce driving under the influence, driving while texting, speeding, use of older vehicles); and 2.) identify environmental assets that can be leveraged and activated to advance Vision Zero’s mission of reducing “people hurt or killed by crashes to zero with street improvements, policy changes, enforcement and education”, including the identification of settings where to reach young people (ages 18 to 29) who are at higher risk for road-related fatalities and serious injuries as well as the environmental assets within these settings (e.g. communication channels, community organizational partners and leaders, policies, and places) that can be activated to promote Vision Zero messaging and preventive actions.

Staff:

Andrew Springer, DrPH, Co-PI

Funder:

City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department