Arlington County, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: The Arlington Commission on Aging set out to make local intersections safer for pedestrians. After consulting data on pedestrian-involved crashes, the Commission worked with local organizations -- including nonprofits, churches, civic associations and the local fire department -- to identify ten crossings with high vehicle speeds and insufficient pedestrian infrastructure. Then they provided hand-held orange flags at crosswalks, which pedestrians can wave as they cross the street to make themselves more visible to passing drivers. Organizers mounted bins at eye-level on each side of the street to store the flags. In addition to improving safety, the effort also helped educate the community about the importance of traffic calming interventions.

Cincinnati, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Hoping to reduce traffic accidents at a busy intersection, the City of Cincinnati created a crosswalk mural in the Clifton Heights neighborhood. Community groups helped choose the mural's design and volunteers worked to paint it on the pavement. The crossing -- which is located near shops, restaurants, a high school and the University of Cincinnati's campus -- attracts heavy pedestrian traffic. In addition to beatifying the streetscape, project organizers hope the mural will make pedestrians more visible. The colorful, abstract artwork is meant to catch drivers' attention, causing them to slow down as they approach. In the future, organizers plan to install crosswalk murals at other popular intersections nearby.

Altadena, CA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: Altadena's Loma Alta Park is a destination for Los Angeles County residents. But visitors lacked a safe way to access the park on foot. To reduce speed limits and make roads safer for pedestrians, the Altadena Town Council's Safe Streets Committee installed temporary Slow Street signage at park access points that lacked walkable, bikeable or equestrian-friendly design features. They also set up a pop-up sidewalk alongside the park, offsetting it from traffic with white poles and red No Parking curb paint. The Committee then hosted a community walk and ride day that led residents on foot, on bikes and on scooters from the park to nearby nature trails. Organizers say the pop-up project raised awareness of the need for better pedestrian infrastructure and traffic calming in the area.