According to a study conducted by Smart Growth America, Florida has 8 of the 20 deadliest cities for pedestrians in the country, with the Orlando metropolitan area ranked #18. As a result, Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL), who represents the area, recently announced a nearly $3 million federal grant from the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Safer Streets and Roads for All program.
$2.1 million was awarded to Metroplan Orlando to develop improved transportation safety plans, hoping to minimize or even eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries in the Orlando area. Another $850,000 is going specifically to Orange County for the same purpose.
"This nearly $3 million in federal funding to Central Florida will serve as a major investment towards our future as a more walkable, safer city for all. Whether you're driving, walking, biking, scooting, or taking the bus – our roads need to keep you safe and work for you, not against you," said Rep. Frost in his press release.
As noted in Smart Growth America's study, the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area was ranked 18th in the 20 deadliest cities for pedestrians in the United States, with 437 pedestrian traffic deaths between 2018 and 2022.
The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area was 17th, with 138 deaths in the area, but its higher rank was because the average among 100,000 people was higher at 3.27 than the Orlando area's 3.26.
In fact, spots 14 to 18 on Smart Growth America's list are all in Florida metropolitan areas. The 14th deadliest city for pedestrians is the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach area, followed by Jacksonville (15th), Cape Coral-Fort Myers (16th), North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton (mentioned at 17th), and Orlando (18th).
The Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach area was ranked 5th deadliest for pedestrians, tying with Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Other findings of Smart Growth America's study found that pedestrian traffic deaths increased by 75% from 2010 to 2022, and people between 50-65 years old or over 75 were the most at risk.
Rep. Frost's grant victory is not the first transportation safety-related activity the Florida Congressman has conducted. Late in May, he introduced the bipartisan Safe Air on Planes Act with Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY), which aims to phase out "bleed air" cabin air systems in commercial aircraft.
