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WHEREAS, according to data of reported crashes compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, 4,099 pedestrians and 1,003 bicyclists were injured in crashes throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2019; and,
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WHEREAS, as vehicle speed increases, the severity of injury and probability of death increases exponentially. The odds of death for a pedestrian struck at 20 MPH is 18%, with the odds of death increasing to 50% as the speed increases to 30 MPH, and 64% at 35 MPH, and;
WHEREAS, The City of Pittsburgh's newest department, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), was established in 2017 to be responsible for the transportation of people and goods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, and for managing the operation of and access to the public right-of-way - sidewalks, curbs, streets, and bridges; and,
WHEREAS, DOMI has five mobility principles with the top goal being that no one dies or is seriously injured traveling on city streets. DOMI cannot prevent all crashes, however they can manage speed in such a way as to avoid crashes leading to fatalities; and,
WHEREAS, throughout the past three years of DOMI's existence, the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program has increasingly become one of their most requested services by city residents. The program's goal is to reduce excessive motorist speeds on residential neighborhood streets and to increase the safety and comfort of residents and people travelling through the neighborhood by all modes; and,
WHEREAS, DOMI has been implementing various traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures through this program including neighborways, installing speed humps and high visibility crosswalks, creating pedestrian refuge islands, and more; and,
WHEREAS, DOMI can create safer streets by reducing speed limits on certain streets within the City of Pittsburgh. However, the setting of speed limits is governed by the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, Title 75, Chapter 212 ? 212.108 st...
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