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City of Richardson (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
└ Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
To test solutions for managing traffic and making streets safer for pedestrians and residents with mobility challenges, the City of Richardson conducted a demonstration project in the business district surrounding the Arapaho Center light rail and bus station. Dubbed a road diet, they temporarily removed two motor vehicle lanes, replacing them with bike lanes. They added an artistic pedestrian crosswalk with a blue and red pattern reflecting the City's new Innovation District branding. In addition, they removed curbs, constructed fencing, installed wayfinding signs and added landscaping. Throughout the demonstration the City collected data on traffic levels and speeds, as well as pedestrian and bike trips. They also collected resident feedback and found 78 percent supported keeping the bike lanes and 82 percent were in favor of the new crosswalk. In 2020, the City obtained a 100,000 grant to permanently install bike lanes along the route.
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Richmond, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
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St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Long stretches of Delmar Boulevard lacked safe crossings, isolating neighborhoods and limiting access to businesses. The district installed two pedestrian crosswalks and added vibrant artwork designed with community input. These changes improve safety and walkability while symbolically bridging a historic divide. Residents and business owners collaborated on the design, fostering unity and sparking momentum for future streetscape improvements.
Tallahassee, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Speeding along Dempsey Mayo Road endangered pedestrians near a school and a local community where older adults lived. Existing crosswalks in the area lacked visibility. To improve safety, the project installed three raised, art-enhanced crosswalks using durable thermoplastic designs. It engaged more than 150 residents age 50-plus in the planning process. The upgrades slowed traffic and encouraged walking while accelerating county safety plans. Officials called the effort "a major win for the community," and a toolkit now enables similar projects elsewhere.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Allen, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: To encourage older residents to become more active and use the local trail system, the City of Allen purchased six adult electric tricycles for the Allen Senior Recreation Center. Center members can check out the trikes to use when weather permits. The tricycles provide supplementary electric power to assist with peddling when needed, enabling users with varying mobility levels to ride them. To get the lending program started, City built a storage facility for the tricycles and offered a skills class for riders. Additionally, they provided helmets, orange safety flags and bike locks. Although motorized vehicles typically aren't typically allowed on Allen's nearby Cottonwood Creek Hike/Bike trail, the City has made an exception for the trikes.
Dallas, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: This project introduced temporary public space interventions to start a community conversation about the pedestrian experience. First, local nonprofit buildingcommunityWORKSHOP held a public meeting to identify challenging conditions along Marilla Street, including obstructed sidewalks, narrow walkways, tripping hazards and absent curb cuts. They then set up a booth at a community event to ask residents about their experiences navigating downtown Dallas on foot. Based on their learnings, buildingcommunityWORKSHOP created colorful, portable ramp units and installed them on local sidewalks, making them ADA-compliant. This demonstrated to the community the value of walking accessible routes. Organizers plan to use learnings from the pop-up project to engage local elected leaders on accessibility and walkability issues.
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