NACTO update: October 30, 2025

NACTO Cities Pioneer Streets for People

The conversation around urban transportation is shifting dramatically, moving away from a car-centric focus to one that prioritizes people walking, biking, and taking transit. The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and its member agencies are not just talking about change—they are leading the transformation on city streets across North America, proving that safer, more equitable, and more efficient mobility is achievable now.

Demonstrating Impact: Success Stories on the Streets

NACTO member cities are delivering tangible, data-driven results by redesigning infrastructure and implementing progressive policies:

• Safety First:
  • Austin, TX: The city’s 10-Year Vision Zero report confirms that strategic intersection redesigns are working, showing a reduction in serious injuries and fatal crashes.
  • Chicago, IL: A massive safety initiative has led to a 60% reduction in fatalities among people biking or riding scooters since 2021, contributing to an overall 30% reduction in traffic fatalities citywide.
  • San Francisco, CA: The deployment of new speed cameras has been highly effective, resulting in a dramatic 72% decrease in speeding at monitored locations.
• Infrastructure Innovation:
  • Columbus, OH: The city is rapidly deploying quick-build solutions by testing rubber medians for traffic calming, demonstrating how fast, temporary materials can immediately improve street safety.
  • Norwalk, CT: Utilizing state funding, Norwalk is set to enhance pedestrian safety and calm traffic using a mix of amenities, including new lighting, planters, and public art.
• Transit and Cycling Momentum:
  • Miami-Dade County, FL: The launch of their first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system—the longest all-electric BRT in the U.S. introduces 14 new high-quality stations featuring level boarding, real-time arrival info, free Wi-Fi, and bike storage. This sets a new standard for high-quality, seamless transit service.
  • Toronto, ON: The city’s bike share program is experiencing phenomenal growth and is on track to exceed 8 million trips this year, following consecutive record months.
  • Vancouver, BC (TransLink): TransLink has showcased remarkable resilience, achieving a ridership recovery rate faster than almost any other major transit system in North America post-pandemic.

NACTO in the Wild: Shaping Future Mobility

Beyond immediate street projects, NACTO is actively engaging in policy and research to shape the future of urban mobility:

• Guiding Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): In response to the U.S. DOT, NACTO submitted detailed recommendations advocating for the safe and equitable rollout of AVs. The key challenges highlighted include ensuring planning, fairness, transparency, and public trust—stressing that AV technology must serve the public interest, not just technological novelty.
• Challenging Speed Limit Standards: NACTO is leading the critique against outdated traffic engineering practices, notably the use of the “85th percentile” method for setting speed limits. The association advocates for limits that prioritize safety and urban context over driver preference.
• Improving Hybrid Beacons: Research co-authored by UMass Amherst has flagged significant issues with Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs), noting that “confusion is a real issue” for drivers. This highlights the need for clearer design and communication to maximize the safety benefits of these devices.

Design Guide Highlight: Ensuring Inclusive Streets

NACTO’s commitment to equity extends to ensuring that street design is truly accessible to everyone. The focus is increasingly on Designing for Non-Visual Navigation.

This means that bikeway projects and crosswalk redesigns offer a crucial opportunity to integrate specific non-visual navigation tools and design elements that cater to people with disabilities, particularly at complex locations like:

• Mid-block crosswalks
• Skewed or complicated intersections
• Signalized intersections and roundabouts

This shift ensures that the movement to put people first includes all people, making safety and accessibility inseparable design goals.

Join the Movement: Designing Cities 2026

The momentum is building. NACTO is hosting its annual Designing Cities Conference in Minneapolis from May 12–15, 2026. This event is the epicenter for municipal leaders looking to advance this movement. For cities and transit agencies, joining NACTO is not just about networking it’s about actively participating in the transformation to create truly vibrant, safe, and connected communities.

source:

https://mailchi.mp/nacto/update-2760009?e=0bf75c3a79