Traffic Safety Peer Exchange Events
SCAG’s Go Human campaign held a 12-part Traffic Safety Peer Exchange series, which was designed to bring together practitioners from jurisdictions and non-governmental organizations throughout the six-county region.
The Traffic Safety Peer Exchanges are supported by funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Topics
June 9: Using Data to Craft a Safety Narrative: High Injury Networks
A high injury network (HIN) provides a compelling data-driven story about where and how safety improvements can save the most lives. It also provides opportunities to get the public involved in proactively promoting traffic safety. An HIN helps communities locate where traffic safety problems exist and where efforts can be focused in the future. Join Go Human to learn innovative ways to incorporate crash and equity data to focus traffic safety efforts. Topics include varying approaches to HINs, strategies to incorporate equity into your HIN, prioritizing, and advancing improvements with a Vision Zero or Local Road Safety Plan.
Speakers:
- Eric Dunlap, Civil Engineer, Los Angeles County Public Works
- Jesse Mint-Roth, Vision Zero Program Manager, City of San Jose
- Katherine Chen, Senior Policy Analyst, UC Berkeley SafeTREC
- Kevin Shin, Senior Director, Policy and Partnerships, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 1 – 2:30pm
June 16: Making Traffic Safety a Reality: Funding Strategies
A great traffic safety program is only successful if it can get implemented, and implementation requires funding. Often the requirements placed on federal and state funding can appear overwhelming, and sometimes local jurisdictions are short on the staff, resources or time needed to apply for funding programs. Luckily, there are efforts underway in California to make this process easier. Join Go Human to learn how to be competitive for federal, state and local funding. Topics include an introduction to available funding, an overview of application processes, tips for developing a successful application and an example of successful local implementation.
Speakers:
- Jonathan Matz, California Senior Policy Manager, Safe Routes Partnership
- Robert Peterson, Office Chief Federal Programs, Caltrans Local Assistance
- Hannah Keyes, Active Transportation Program, Southern California Association of Governments
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
June 22: More Than a Checkbox: Better Community Engagement
When we prioritize community engagement in traffic safety projects, we learn how to combat systemic inequalities in a way that encourages safety for people of color and vulnerable individuals moving in public spaces. Join Go Human and our partners to discuss equitable and positive outreach and engagement to community members. Topics include community organizing, building capacity, using social media, reaching key communities, and compensating people for their on-the-ground expertise.
Speakers:
- John Yi, Executive Director, LA Walks
- Ata Kahn, Supervising Planner, City of Pomona
- Jill Cooper, Co-Director, UC Berkeley SafeTREC
- Monique G. López, AICP, MA, MCR., Founder, Pueblo Planning
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
June 24: Traffic Safety is a Public Health Issue: Collaborating to Save Lives
By any definition, traffic safety is a public health issue. Collaboration between transportation and public health can save lives. Join the Go Human campaign to learn how working closely with your local public health officials can help you provide safer transportation options in your community and inspire shifts toward a traffic safety culture.
Speakers:
- Dr. Susie López-Guerra, Director of Community Relations, Santa Ana Unified School District
- Alexis Lantz, Senior Policy Strategist, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (PLACE Program)
- Miguel A. Vázquez, AICP, Healthy Communities Urban Regional Planner, Riverside University Health System
Date: Thursday, June 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
June 29: Repairing and Investing: Addressing Equity in the Built Environment
There are significant regional disparities in traffic safety outcomes that are a result of discrimination in transportation investments. A more equitable approach is possible, but success hinges on owning past wrongs, re-earning trust and listening to community needs. Join Go Human in learning about how to restore relationships and meet the infrastructure and investment needs of historically under-resourced communities. Speakers will include individuals who are actively addressing transportation equity and its impact on traffic safety in their communities.
Speakers:
- Josie Ahrens, Transportation Planner, Oakland Department of Transportation
- Lauren Ballard, Supervising Transportation Planner, Vision Zero – Los Angeles Department of Transportation
- Naomi Doerner, Director of Equity, Diversion & Inclusion, Nelson\Nygaard
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
July 13: Community-Centered Traffic Safety in Rural Areas (Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties)
Is your community dealing with deficient or non-existent sidewalk infrastructure? Are local roadways poorly lit without shoulders or with dangerous shoulder drop-offs? Do older residents have few alternatives to driving, and are there limited dignified options for agricultural workers to get to and from the fields? If you want to incorporate equity into your transportation safety programs but aren’t sure where to start, you’re not alone. Join Go Human to learn how safety practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties improve traffic safety and prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This session is focused on traffic safety issues facing rural communities. Topics include equity issues, pedestrian and bicycle safety, safe transportation options for agricultural workers, roadway design in rural areas (e.g., narrow, two-lane roads, shoulder drop-offs), and proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Jacob Alvarez, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Coachella
- Marina Ramirez, Community Programs Manager, California Walks
- Rosa Loera, Parent Organizer, Muscoy Sidewalks for Safety
Date: Tuesday, July 13, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
July 15: Traffic Safety in the City: Centering Equity and Access (Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Do urban areas in your community lack safe spaces for community connections? Are there few opportunities to safely walk and bike? Are there safe places to access transit? Are any areas cut off by freeways or other obstructions? Join Go Human to learn how practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties improve traffic safety and prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This regionally specific session is focused on traffic safety issues facing urban communities. Topics include pedestrian and bicycle safety, speeding, intersection conflicts, and implementing proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Commissioner Michele Martinez, California Transportation Commission
- Nathan Mustafa, PE, TE, AICP City of Riverside, Deputy Public Works Director
- Mark Friis, Safe Routes Coordinator, San Bernardino County, Department of Public Health
Date: Thursday, July 15, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
July 20: Traffic Safety in Suburbia: Serving All Ages (Los Angeles and Ventura Counties)
Do you want to reimagine how space on your public rights-of-way are distributed? Are you wondering how to balance the needs of your community members? Is car-centered planning crowding out opportunities to walk and bike? Join Go Human to learn how practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help suburban areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties improve traffic safety and prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This regionally specific session is focused on traffic safety issues facing suburban communities. Topics include traffic safety for older adults, population density and lack of access to safe transportation alternatives, equity, pedestrian and bicycle safety, speeding, and implementing proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Stephanie Ramirez, Associate State Director of Community, AARP
- Tim Frémaux, Senior Transportation Engineer, Los Angeles Department of Transportation
- Derek Towers, Active Transportation Specialist, City of Ventura
Date: Tuesday, July 20, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
July 23: Reimagining Community Safety (in partnership with APA California)
Traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries have long been regarded as a public health issue, and now it is becoming clear that traffic enforcement is as well. Police officers in the United States pull over more than 19 million vehicles annually, making vehicle stops the number one reason for contact between citizens and the police. Multiple studies have demonstrated that Black drivers are stopped disproportionately, a gap that cannot be accounted for by factors such as differential driving behavior or greater poverty. The inequitable impacts on people of color mean that police traffic enforcement itself poses a danger to these communities. Join Go Human and APA California to learn how communities are reconsidering the traditional role of the police in traffic enforcement and about recent efforts to reimagine community safety.
Speakers:
- Eric Bruins, Transportation Deputy, Office of Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin
- Natasha Riveron, Healthy Parks and Places Manager, Safe Routes Partnership
- Barnali Ghosh, Coordinating Committee, Walk Bike Berkeley
Date: Friday, July 23, 1:15pm – 2:15 p.m.
July 29: Traffic Safety in Suburbia: Serving All Ages (Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Do you want to reimagine how space on your public rights-of-way are distributed? Are you wondering how to balance the needs of your community members? Is car-centered planning crowding out opportunities to walk and bike? Join Go Human to learn how practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties improve traffic safety and prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This regionally specific session is focused on traffic safety issues facing suburban communities. Topics include traffic safety for older adults, population density and lack of access to safe transportation alternatives, equity, pedestrian and bicycle safety, speeding, and implementing proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Eric Cowle, Transportation Program Manager, Coachella Valley Association of Governments
- Councilmember Denise Davis, City of Redlands
- Marven Norman, Policy Specialist, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Date: Thursday, July 29, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
August 3: Community-Centered Traffic Safety in Rural Areas (Los Angeles and Ventura Counties)
Is your community dealing with deficient or non-existent sidewalk infrastructure? Are local roadways poorly lit without no shoulders or with dangerous shoulder drop-offs? Do older residents have few alternatives to driving, and are there limited dignified options for agricultural workers to get to and from the fields? You aren’t alone if you want to incorporate equity into your transportation safety programs. Join with Go Human to learn how practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help Los Angeles and Ventura Counties to improve traffic safety and preventing traffic fatalities and serious injuries. This regionally specific session is focused on traffic safety issues facing rural communities. Topics include equity, pedestrian and bicycle safety, providing safe transportation to agricultural workers and other agricultural issues, roadway design in rural areas (i.e., narrow, two-lane roads, shoulder drop-off, etc.), and implementing proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Lucas Zucker, Researcher and Community Organizer, Central Coast Alliance for Sustainable Economy
- Rosa Orellana, Engineer, City of Lancaster
- Alvin Ly, Associate Civil Engineer, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Date: Tuesday, August 3, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
August 10: Traffic Safety in the City: Centering Equity and Access (Los Angeles County)
Do urban areas in your community lack safe spaces for community connections? Are there few opportunities to safely walk and bike? Are there safe places to access transit? Are any areas cut off by freeways or other obstructions? Join SCAG Go Human to learn how practitioners, city staff and elected officials can help Los Angeles County to improve traffic safety and prevent traffic violence. This regionally specific session is focused on traffic safety issues facing urban communities. Topics include pedestrian and bicycle safety, speeding, intersection conflicts, and implementing proven safety countermeasures.
Speakers:
- Carl Hickman, City Traffic Engineer, and Rachel Junken, Transportation Planner III, City of Long Beach
- Margot Rogers-Ocañas, Safe Routes to School Director, Los Angeles Department of Transportation
- Caro Vera, Principal Transportation Planner, Los Angeles Metro’s Office of Equity and Race