The U.S. Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has ordered a review of all discretionary grants for green infrastructure, bike lanes, and projects that improve conditions for communities that have been unfairly marginalized and neglected, potentially slashing funding for critical safety improvements across the country. This decision threatens years of progress in making streets safer for people walking, biking, and using public transit.
But while the federal government backtracks, communities aren’t waiting around. Local and state leaders continue investing in walkability, proving that the demand for safer, more accessible streets isn’t going away. Whether through local funding, state grants, or voter-approved measures, cities and towns are taking action to protect their residents and prioritize mobility beyond cars.
Here are some of the latest walkability wins happening right now, because safe streets aren’t up for debate!
Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania
Ligonier Township has received a $587,000 grant from Pennsylvania’s Multimodal Transportation Fund to construct sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge, enhancing pedestrian safety and infrastructure. State Rep. Leslie Rossi emphasized the importance of such investments in creating safer, more accessible communities. The funding, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, aims to improve transportation safety, boost economic development, and enhance residents’ quality of life, ensuring Ligonier Township remains vibrant and well-connected.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is advancing its Vision Zero initiative, aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2040, with several safety projects underway or planned for 2025. Completed projects include safety improvements at Sutherland Avenue and Tobler Lane, where a student was hit, and enhancements on Chapman Highway with bike lanes and pedestrian paths. Future projects include curb cuts, guardrail replacements, rumble strips, and the Sevier Avenue roundabout. Design-stage projects like the Burlington streetscape and Magnolia Avenue upgrades aim to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety citywide.
West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Streets Department is enhancing pedestrian safety on Chestnut Street in West Philadelphia by installing concrete pedestrian refuge islands at multiple intersections from 43rd to 62nd Streets. These raised medians replace plastic delineator posts, reduce crossing distances and provide safe staging areas for pedestrians on wide roadways. Construction has begun and is expected to finish by fall, improving safety in bicycle lane buffer areas.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara County has allocated $7.2 million to improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure in Isla Vista as part of its Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The project, funded by California’s Active Transportation Program, includes adding bike boulevards, protected bike lanes, curb extensions, pedestrian crossing lights, and sidewalks. Aimed at enhancing safety and convenience for cyclists and pedestrians, the plan focuses on east-west corridors, with construction set to begin in 2028.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte’s Vision Zero initiative is taking shape with a focus on reducing traffic-related deaths and improving safety. A $400 million transportation bond, approved by voters in November, allocates $20 million to Vision Zero, funding projects like enhanced streetlights, pedestrian crossings, and Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons. The initiative targets high-need areas based on data, aiming to address rising pedestrian fatalities, which increased by 77% between 2010 and 2022. Key projects include adding streetlights to East W.T. Harris Boulevard and installing over 50 new crosswalks, with plans to enhance visibility and connectivity citywide.
To catch up on previous installments of Walkability Wins, visit our blog. Have a win? Send it to us: social@americawalks.org.
