A new roundup of Walkability Wins. This month we’re showcasing the movement by highlighting more places across the country who are transforming mobility and advancing pedestrian-friendly agendas.
Anchorage, Alaska
On July 16th and 17th, AARP Alaska and America Walks hosted a Walkable Community Workshop and Quick-Build Pedestrian Safety Project at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. The focus on this location has already resulted in the Municipality of Anchorage striping a new, permanent crosswalk on 19th Avenue East connecting Chugach Manor Senior Housing with the Senior Activity Center!
Shout out to AARP Alaska for this amazing win!
Howard County, Maryland
Howard County announced a historic $14.7 million investment in Complete Streets and active transportation in the proposed FY 2025 Capital Budget. This funding will support pedestrian, bicycle, and infrastructure projects, including safety improvements on Cradlerock Way, new bike lanes, and ADA ramp upgrades. They also unveiled multimillion-dollar investments to expand public transportation, update the Regional Transportation Agency’s fleet, and launch the FLASH bus rapid transit service. These efforts aim to create safer, more connected, and sustainable communities in Howard County.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is ramping up its efforts to improve street safety with the installation of over 2,000 speed humps citywide. As part of their “Safety Surge” program, these speed humps are designed to slow down traffic, reduce crashes, and protect pedestrians and cyclists. Spread across all city council districts, the speed humps will be prioritized based on crash data and neighborhood demographics. The city plans to continue expanding speed humps to every eligible residential street.
Richmond, Virginia
The CVT Canal Walk is an important downtown riverfront path for Richmond residents and visitors and the Department of Public Works in Richmond has begun the second phase of construction to enhance pedestrian and bike access. Key updates include ramp extensions, retaining, walls, and a shared-use path. The project, funded by federal and city sources, is expected to finish by spring 2025.
Spokane, Washington
Spokane has become the largest city in Washington State to eliminate citywide parking mandates, following a 4-1 City Council decision. This move aims at reducing housing costs and promoting multimodal transportation. The city had previously removed parking near transit stops, but this policy goes further and aligns Spokane with other major U.S. cities like Austin and Portland that have recently dropped parking requirements.
To catch up on previous installments of Walkability Wins, visit our blog. Have a win? Send it to us: social@americawalks.org.
