APD and TxDOT team up for safety campaign

APD and TxDOT are teaming up on a new safety campaign. The two agencies want to reduce the number of pedestrians killed and injured on local roadways.

Flashing lights, reflective bands and colorful back packs are key parts of the new "Be Safe-Be Seen" campaign. The growing threat on Austin roadways to pedestrians prompted the move by TxDOT administrators, and top brass with APD to launch the new effort.

"Nationally there is a pedestrian fatality every 1.6 hours. And the state of Texas has the third highest rate of pedestrian fatalities in the nation,” said State Rep. Celia Israel (D) Austin.

Incidents captured by AISD stop-arm-cameras show how children, have been hit getting off school buses. Adults have been killed trying to cross I-35. An Incident Map shows, while the majority of cases are on I-35, practically every major roadway in Austin has a problem.

In 2016 there were 29 fatal auto-pedestrian collisions. 17 so far this year.

On average, 28 pedestrians die every year in Austin.

A promotional video produced by TxDOT shows how reflective gear will be handed out. A big emphasis is on school kids and also on Austin's transient community.

Organizers and supporters, believe the effort is not just a feel good campaign

"What we cannot do is stand by and not do the initiatives like what we are doing today, trying to educate the public. TxDOT's campaign Be Safe Be Seen, putting these bags out there, so that the most vulnerable in our community are more visible to motorists, it is a step toward safety,” said Interim APD Chief Brian Manley.

This educational campaign is being launched as TxDOT is tearing up I-35 all the way through Austin. So TxDOT Austin District Engineer Terry McCoy was asked about the long term game plan for Pedestrian Safety and also if there is a short term game plan.

"We do want to avoid I-35 to look "Institutional" and that also turns into a maintenance issue, so there's a lot of considerations for us as we go through this, unfortunately there is not one silver bullet for us,” said McCoy.

From SkyFOX Drone, some of the road work at 51st street has made it difficult to walk through. To the North, there are areas with nothing to prevent a dangerous dash across the interstate.

The idea of installing temporary barriers has already been considered.

"For the investigation we've done, they create more problems than they solve, you have to look at this from all possible angles, and so far that has not been a practical solution for us,” McCoy.

Limiting access at hot spots for illegal crossings - along with increased police patrols are options still on the table. Staying out of Harm’s way will only become more difficult, as more sidewalks are torn up and as more construction projects move forward.