Davids Releases New Report on the State of Transportation Safety in the Third District

Statement

Today, Representative Sharice Davids released a new report examining the state of transportation safety in the Third District of Kansas, the fourth installment in her office's "State of our Systems" series. The series details the most pressing infrastructure needs in the district and how Davids is working to bring federal funds to those projects, from bridges to roads to water. This new report highlights concerning trends in roadway safety and how Davids is working with state and local officials to create safer commutes in the Kansas Third District. Key takeaways include:

Pedestrian fatalities in Kansas increased by 150% from 2019 to 2020, the second highest increase in the nation.
The Third District experienced record high injuries and deaths from unrestrained passengers in 2020 and was the site of 21% of Kansas' overall pedestrian deaths that year.
At three different locations within a 4-mile stretch of US 69 in Johnson County, crash volume peaks higher than one crash per day.

Davids announced these findings today at the 47th Street Complete Streets project, a federally-funded project aimed at increasing pedestrian, vehicle, and cyclist safety along a main business corridor in Westwood, Kansas. Davids was joined by Westwood Mayor David Waters, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Tyrone Garner, and Kansas Department of Transportation Director of Planning and Development Chris Herrick.

Rep. Sharice Davids announces her "State of our Systems: Safety" report in Westwood, Kansas.

Rep. Sharice Davids announces her "State of our Systems: Safety" report in Westwood, Kansas.

Speakers joined Davids to share their efforts to improve safety and save lives and speak to how federal funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law are helping them achieve those goals. The bipartisan infrastructure law implements the most comprehensive and holistic approach to improving roadway safety ever. The law is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings and has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"One Kansan loses their life every 20 hours to a motor vehicle accident, and just this week folks in our district lost loved ones when an Amtrak train derailed outside Mendon, Missouri. These deaths are preventable with the right policy approach," said Davids. "The bipartisan infrastructure law invests in safer streets, safer sidewalks, and stronger enforcement to reverse this trend and save lives."

"Important projects, such as the 47th Street Corridor, cannot and do not happen without the support of our federal partners," said Mayor David Waters of Westwood. "Not only will this project make our community safer, but it will also help in building that community in the first place, by allowing better connections among people, serving our businesses, encouraging active lifestyles, promoting investments in our homes and schools, creating a sense of place, and ensuring that more people--of all ages and abilities--have the opportunity to participate safely."

"This partnership hopefully will enhance safe and livable neighborhoods, not just in Wyandotte County and Kansas City Kansas, but for our neighbors here in Westwood," said Unified Government Mayor/CEO Tyrone Garner. "This wouldn't have become a reality--I really want to hit this home--without the support Congresswoman Davids has put forward to making sure these types of projects become reality right here in the Third District of Kansas."

"This new report from Representative Davids makes clear the need to bring smart, sustainable infrastructure investments to the Third Congressional District and to all of Kansas," said Chris Herrick, Director of Planning & Development at the Kansas Department of Transportation. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides an opportunity to make safety improvements across a variety of sectors and places emphasis on including safety as a necessary and vital consideration for funding."

The full "State of our Systems: Safety" report can be accessed here. Previous reports focused on bridges, roads, and water infrastructure in the Third District.

Westwood Mayor Davids Waters, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Tyrone Garner, and Chris Herrick from the Kansas Department of Transportation join Rep. Davids to announce her State of our Systems: Safety report.

Westwood Mayor Davids Waters, Unified Government Mayor/CEO Tyrone Garner, and Chris Herrick from the Kansas Department of Transportation join Rep. Davids to announce her State of our Systems: Safety report.

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