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Youth Active Transportation Safety Grant Results: Colorado

Colorado teens
May 9, 2024

Through the support of the National Road Safety Foundation, GHSA awarded the Colorado highway safety office a grant to train Commerce City Latino teens to advocate for safer bicyclist and pedestrian mobility options.

Summary

The schools in Commerce City, Colorado, were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s when fewer cars were on the road, making it safer for students to walk to school. Today, however, the lack of infrastructure around the city’s schools, coupled with high-speed, multi-lane roads that surround the city, makes it difficult for students to travel safely on foot to and from their classrooms.

The Colorado Office of Transportation Safety partnered with Adelante Community Development, a non-profit organization focused on serving Latino families and entrepreneurs, to recruit and train teens as part of the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board (TSYAB). These teens were trained to be ambassadors and educated their peers in Commerce City about pedestrian, bicycle and other safe mobility practices. 

Community Outreach

Eight student ambassadors came together to form "Voz y Vision Valida" (Valid Voice and Vision or VVV). After a tragic incident in their community when a 16-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run, they shifted their focus to advocating for safer roads and pedestrian-friendly measures. Their tireless efforts, including submitting letters and presenting to City Council members, resulted in the installation of 58 speed tables and humps along 34 corridors around schools. Their initiative and determination made a significant impact on their community and inspired positive change.

The group also purchased signage from Zone Crew and donated it to the Adams 14 School District for use at Adams City High School. These signs are designed to slow down traffic by alerting drivers to pedestrian crossings.

Project Impact

Installing the speed tables is undeniably the project’s biggest success. The youth were instrumental in driving positive change in the community and continue to do so today. The City Engineer recognized the value of the youth's recommendations and continues to work closely with them throughout the year, fueling their passion for making a difference in their community.

Project Communications

Adelante used its Facebook page to communicate with city residents. CDOT issued a press release that generated coverage from English and Spanish media, reaching over 190,000 individuals. Additionally, the project generated three news stories:

Image of a news story with the headline "Grant funds Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board in Commerce City"

Related Resources

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Term raw: Federal Research Projects | Slug: federal-research-projects
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Assessing Effects of Speed Camera Programs on Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes (BTS-47)

The objectives of this research are to (1) develop an understanding of the effects of speed camera programs on pedestrian and bicycle crashes, and (2) provide guidance for jurisdictions to measure effects of speed camera programs on pedestrian and bicycle crashes, including downstream effects beyond speed camera locations. The research should consider fine structures, payment of fines, and in which contexts speed cameras may be most effective. Findings can be used states and jurisdictions (1) to help decide if and where to implement speed cameras most effectively to target vulnerable road user crashes and (2) to communicate the benefits of speed cameras to the public.
Federal Research Projects
Term raw: Federal Research Projects | Slug: federal-research-projects
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Effects of Pre-hospital Blood Programs and Improved EMS Response Time on the Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash Mortality (BTS-43)

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